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THE 



CONFEDERATION 

OF THE 

BRITISH 

NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES 

THEIR PAST HISTORY AND FUTURE PROSPECTS; 



INCLUDING ALSO 



BRITISH COLUMBIA & HUDSOFS BAY TERRITORY; 
WITH A MAP, 

AND 

SUGGESTIONS IN REFERENCE TO THE TRUE AND ONLY PRACTICABLE ROUTE 

FROM 

THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
THOMAS KAWLINGS, 

OF GRESHAM HOUSE, LONDON. 

AUTHOR OF "THE UNITED STATES AND TTS FUTURE." 




LONDON : 
SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND MAESTON, 

ENGLISH, AMERICAN", AND COLONIAL BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHER?, 

14, LUDGATE HILL. 

1865. 

[The right of Translation is reserved.] 






LONDON : 

Pn'NTKI) BY CLAYTON AND CO. 

17, BOUVERIE 8TREET, 

B.C. 



'Yvfc 

4/ 



TO THE 



HONOUBABLE WILLIAM NAPIEE, 



My dear Sir, 

Dnrino- mv soiourn in England the past two years, 



Note.— Just on the eve of going to press, we have 
received intelligence that a bill, for a further grant of land of 
2600 acres per Mile, has just passed Congress at Washington, 
and become law; thus making 6400 acres per mile to aid in 
building the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad—covering a grand 
total of nearly Five Million Aches of Laot. 

March 22, 1865. 



suggestion, I have compiled., from the best authorities, all the 
information which I thought bore upon the subject. You 
will find the work fragmentary and disjointed, but a merchant 
lays no claim to the dignity of a litterateur. 

Faithfully yours, 

THOS. RAWLINGS. 

Hampton Villa, Pbmbridge Place, 

London, February 16, I860. # 



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103-a. 



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6 



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TO THE 



HONOURABLE WILLIAM NAPIEE, 



My dear Sir, 

During my sojourn in England the past two years, 
circumstances have caused me to seek many interviews with 
you. And during those interviews I have always been impressed 
with the profound interest you manifested in all that concerned 
the welfare of the British North American Colonies, and the 
future development of the Hudson Bay Territory. You have 
done me the honour on one or two occasions to say that you 
thought a pamphlet, which would carry to the public a general 
idea of that whole territory, and impress upon the Government 
at home the importance of uniting by iron bands the Atlantic 
with the Pacific Ocean, would be a task pleasing to me, who 
had lived in America so many years. Acting upon that 
suggestion, I have compiled, from the best authorities, all the 
information which I thought bore upon the subject. You 
will find the work fragmentary and disjointed, but a merchant 
lays no claim to the dignity of a litterateur. 

Faithfully yours, 

THOS. RAWLINGS. 

Hampton Villa, Pjsmbridge Place, 

London, February 16, 1865. m 



rilEFACE 



I purpose, in the following pages, to treat of the migratory 
movements of the hnman race chronologically — of the dis- 
coveries on the continent of America — of the early history, 
progress, present condition, and future prospects of all that 
territory lying north of the 49th parallel, the Lakes and 
the St. Lawrence, and extending from the Pacific to the 
Atlantic Ocean, and which will constitute the proposed 
British North American Confederacy. 

I desire to prove by that history, that progress, that 
prosperous present, and by that prospective future, what 
a splendid territory Great Britain possesses, and how proud 
she should be of so thriving, so energetic, so ambitious a 
people. 

I shall devote a few chapters to the consideration of 
the Western States of the United States ; I shall show by 
statistical tables their progress, their development, and 
their inherent agricultural and mineral wealth. 

The subject of a railway communication between the 
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will also claim attention ; and 
it will be my endeavour to point out that route which, by 
its natural advantages, offers the most feasible and least 
expensive means of crossing the continent. 

It will be my aim to gather, select, and compile every 
item of interest, every recorded experience in pioneer life, 



VI PREFACE. 

every statistical fact of importance, and every sugges- 
tion which may tend to the instruction or guidance of 
the Emigrant. 

I shall not hesitate to quote largely from works 
which chorographically treat of America, and whose 
authority may substantiate my statements, or whose 
author's language will make more clear the subjects 
I wish to illustrate, or the ends at which I aim. 

If the facts and observations contained in these pages 
add somewhat to the general information of the public 
in reference to the Transatlantic "World, or if the emi- 
grant who has determined upon a new sphere of action 
shall find any remarks which may assist in guiding him 
in his judgment, and result in ameliorating the early 
hardships of his new career, my object is accomplished. 

T. E. 




O 
O 

> 



5 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

PAGE 

The British. Colonies ; their Extent, Population, Imports and Exports — The 
proposed British North American Confederation ; their Extent, Popu- 
lation, Imports and Exports ; their prospective "Wealth — Confederation 
a Means of Security — The Great Railway Route from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific Ocean — The Duty of England in reference to the Colonies ... 1 

CHAPTER II. 

MIGRATORY MOVEMENTS OF THE HUMAN RACE. 

Early Efforts of the Explorer, Geographer, and Navigator — America in its 
Primitive State — The Causes which operated to develop the Migratory 
Movements of Mankind, and the Progress in Discovery made by various 
Expeditions 9 

CHAPTER III. 

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 

Scandinavian Records — Eric the Red — Speculation of EuropEans — Columbus 
and his Voyages — Balboa, Magellan, Cortez — Pizarro and his Comrades — 
Sir Francis Drake — Expeditions to the Arctic Ocean and their Result . . 15 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE PROGRESS OF COLONIZATION. 

The Colonization of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, 
Nova Scotia, and the Canadas (Upper and Lower) 25 

CHAPTER V. 

STATISTICS OF NEWFOUNDLAND, PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND, AND 
NOVA SCOTIA. 

Newfoundland : Agriculture ; Government ; Fisheries ; Shipping ; Imports 
and Exports ; Population — Prince Edward's Island : Industrial Resources; 
Imports and Exports ; Counties, Towns, and Population ; Education ; 
Government — Nova Scotia : The Seasons ; Botanical Productions ; Ship- 



Viii CONTENTS, 

PAGE 

ping ; Agriculture ; Fisheries ; Commerce ; Population ; Quadrupeds, 
Birds, and Fish; Crown Lands; Education; Government; Halifax; 
Gold-Fields; Minerals 31 



CHAPTER VI. 

DESCRIPTION OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 

New Brunswick — Rivers and Counties — Capabilities of the Province — Forests 
— Fisheries — Minerals — Fruit and Vegetables — Manufactures — Counties — 
Commerce — Finances — Government — Public Schools — Militia — Census of 
1861— Agriculture 46 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE CANADAS. 

The Lakes, Rivers, and Canals— The Pictured Rocks — The Great Lakes — 
Mineral Wealth— Commerce, Shipping, Trade, and Statistics— Rivers — 
The Rapids — Canadian Song — Emigration — Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, 
Kingstown, Hamilton, Cobourg, &c. — The Farming Interest of Canada — 
Agricultural Statistics and Tables 54 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Hudson's bay territory. 

The Hudson's Bay Company: its Charter, its Profits, its Furs— The Fur 
Trade : its Extent and Value— The Territory : its Government, its Physical 
Features, its Plains, Lakes, and Rivers — The Saskatchewan Valley — 
Testimony of Captain Blakiston, Captain Palisser, Sir George Simpson, 
Monsieur Bourgeau, Father De Smet, Professor Hind, and others in 
reference to its Agricultural Resources — The Railway Route — Its Minerals, 
Grass, Fish, Animals, Birds, Roots, Berries, &c. — The Red River Settle- 
ment — American Trade— Homes for the Emigrant — The Company's Lands 
in the Market — Crossing the Rocky Mountains — Progress of the West — 
The Future Policy of the Hudson's Bay Company 85 

CHAPTER IX. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA AND VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 

The Rocky Mountains: their Extent, their Altitude, their Passes — British 
Columbia : Early Discovery, Boundary-line, Lakes, Rivers, &c. ; Gold and 
the Gold-mines ; Discovery of the Gold; Testimony of Governor Douglas, 
G. Forbes Macdonald, Esq., and the Times Correspondent — Gold on 
Fraser River — Richness of the Mines— Mines on Thompson River — Lillooett 
Gold-mines -Cariboo Gold River — Steele's Company — Labour in British 
Columbia — Export of Gold in 1863— Fertility of Soil in the Gold 
Neighbourhood — Progress of the Colony — Vancouver's Island: its Agri- 
cultural Resources, Coal-beds, Importance as a Naval Station, Imports 
and Exports ; Prospecting, Panning, and Washing Gold 105 



CONTENTS. ix 



CHAPTER X. 

THE RAILWAY SYSTEM OF NORTH AMERICA. 

PAGK 

Early Travelling — Steam a Revolutionizer — Length of Railway in England, 
France, and the United States — Opening of the Ohio and Mississippi Rail- 
road — Professor Mitchell's Testimony as to their Value — Increase in Traffic 
of American Railways — Railway System of Nova Scotia and New Bruns- 
wick — Canadian Railways — The Inter- Colonial Railway — General Review 
of the Subject — The Duty of England towards the proposed British North 
American Confederacy 127 



PART II 



CHAPTER I. 

THE UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 

Progress and Extent of Territory— Her Natural Beauties, Lakes, Rivers, 
Prairies, and Mountains — English Appreciation of America, and her 
Sympathy — Her Poets, Orators, Historians, and Artists — Peace and Reci- 
procity — The Blessings of Peace — The Reciprocity Treaty — Its Results 
and Mutual Benefits — Its Continuation desirable 138 



CHAPTER II. 

THE UNITED STATES. 

Primary Object of the Book — Captain Palisser's Testimony — Route wholly 
through British Territory impossible — The only feasible Route, by way of 
Michigan and Minnesota to Hudson's Bay — Wealth of the Western States 
— Ohio : Products of Agriculture ; Railways — Indiana : Area, Population, 
Progress of the State, Agricultural Products, Manufactures, and Railways 
— Michigan : General Statistics, Products of Agriculture, the Cereal Pro- 
ducts, Miscellaneous Crops, and Railroads — Wisconsin : Topographical 
Features, Railroads, Products of Agriculture, Valuation and Taxation — 
Iowa : Agricultural Wealth, Increase, Railroads — Illinois : Agricultural 
Progress, Valuation and Taxation, Railways, and Number, Extent, and 
Cost of all the Railways in the United States 149 

CHAPTER III. 

MINNESOTA. 

Extent of Territory— St. Paul, the Capital— Physical Districts— Falls of St. 
Anthony and its Water Power— Mineral Resources— Sandstone, &c. — Salt 



CONTENTS. 

TAGE 

Springs— The Relations of Minnesota in Reference to Internal Commerce 
— Rapid Progress of Cultivation — Agricultural Productions— Progress of 
Population — The Future of Minnesota — Testimony of Hon. W. H. Seward 
— Conclusion — Railway through Minnesota —Illinois Central Railread — 
The Value of the Lands— Value of the Illinois Lands 16-5 



CHAPTER IV. 

EMIGRATION. 

Advice to Emigrants to Canada or the United States —Progress of Emigration 
to America — Comparative Increase in Immigration from 1861 to 1864 — 
Emigration from Germany — Laws of Migration— Inducements to Settle in 
America— Stock-Breeding and Raising in Illinois 193 






CONTENTS OF APPENDICES. 



APPENDIX "A." 

The British American Federation — Resolutions Adopted at a Conference of 
Delegates from the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, 
and the Colonies of Newfoundland, and Prince Edward's Island . . . 205 



APPENDIX "B." 

Increased Production of Cultivated Plants near the Northernmost Limit of 
their Growth — Extracts from an Article upon the "Acclimating Principle 
of Plants," by Dr. Forry 212 

APPENDIX "C." 

Professor M. F. Maury and Pacific Railroads — The Physical, Commercial, and 
Military Necessity of two Railroads, one North and one South . . . .217 

APPENDIX "D." 

Table of Distances, Fares, &c, between Great Britain and North America — 
Distances to Chicago, Illinois, from Quebec, New York, Boston, and New 
Orleans — Table of Distances and Fares in the United States and Canada, 
via Grand Trunk Railway 223 

APPENDIX "E." 

Itineraries of Routes from St. Paul to Pembina. Fort Garry, Fort Ellice, 
Edmonton House, and the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia — Table of 
Distances from St. Paul to Pembina : From St. Paul to Lake Floyd ; Lake 
Floyd to Pembina ; Red Lake River to Pembina — Plain Trail : Route of 
Woods and Pope ; Route of Ellis Smith and Party — Various Routes : Saux 
Rapids to Sioux Wood River ; St. Cloud to Georgetown ; St. Cloud to 
Goose River; Detroit Lake to Georgetown, &c. — Railroad Lines — Table 
of Distances from Breckinridge to Pembina — Routes and Portions of 
Routes to the North and North- West of Pembina 226 

APPENDIX "F." 
St. Paul and Pacific Railroad— Statement of the Hon. E. Rice, State Senator. 233 

APPENDIX «G." 

Value of Moneys in Canada— Colonial, British, American — Value of English 
Coin throughout Canada L . . 239 



THE CONFEDERATION 

OF THE 

BEITISH NOKTH AMERICAN PEOYINCES. 



CHAPTEE I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The British. Colonies ; their Extent, Population, Imports and Exports — The pro- 
posed British North American Confederation ; their Extent, Population, 
Imports and Exports ; their prospective Wealth — Confederation a Means of 
Security — The Great Railway Route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean— 
The Duty of England in reference to the Colonies. 



THE BRITISH COLONIES. 

The gradual development, continued progress, and sure, but in- 
creased prosperity of England's possessions, dependencies, and 
colonies, should ever be a matter of careful consideration, study, 
and deliberation, by the Government of Great Britain, her states- 
men, and her people. 

When we consider their number, their extended and yet widely- 
separated distribution, geographically and climatically; the variety 
of their productions; the material contributions which they make to 
our unsurpassed wealth ; the deep interest they have in maintaining 
and extending our religious, commercial, and political influence ; 
how largely they share in the splendour of our prosperity and the 
solidity of our power ; that, in a great degree, they are the reser- 
voirs and granaries from which we draw those materials which 
ultimately clothe and feed our millions; that they are large con- 
sumers of our varied products and fabrics ; that in many of 
their harbours our fleets find a safe refuge from hostile foes ; and 
that, while travelling through them, or passing over their lakes and 
rivers, there is a feeling of consanguinity and love for all that 
surrounds us, and the old flag still waving above to shield and 
protect us: considering these things, should we not watch over 
them with parental care, support them while struggling through 
their days of experimental existence, and foster every attempt 
which they make to enlarge their sphere of action, extend civiliza- 

B 



2 

tion and commerce, and assist them in developing their various 
elements of innate wealth ? 



EXTENT, POPULATION, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 

Each of our various possessions in different quarters of the 
world contributes its quota towards the full measurement of our 
greatness. Our colonies in 1862 imported a total of £45,423,903, 
and exported £65,283,251. 

British India, comprising Bengal, North- West Province, Pun- 
jaub, Madras, and Bombay, extends over 933,722 square miles, and 
a population of 135,634,200. Her revenue in 1863 amounted to 
£36,662,867. 

In Africa we have Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gold Coast, Cape of 
Good Hope, Natal, Lagoo, and St. Helena, comprising an area of 
240,000 square miles, and a population of 500,000. 

The Australian Colonies and New Zealand consist of New 
South Wales, 323,437 sq. miles; pop. (1861), white, 351,046, 
coloured, 14,589; total, 36ofi35. Imports (1862) £4,019,482. 
Exports £2,234,592. Queensland, 678,000 sq. miles ; pop. (1862) 
70,000; 8,063,612 lbs. of wool were exported. Victoria, 86,831 
sq. miles; pop. (1862) 555,744. The imports were £6,073,951, 
while the exports were £2,870,715. 

Western Australia, 978,000 sq. miles ; pop. 10,000. Southern 
Australia, 383,328 sq. miles; pop. (1862) 140,329. Export of 
wool 13,229,009 lbs. Imports £950,637. Exports £866,583. 
Tasmania, 26,215 sq. miles ; pop. 100,000. 

New Zealand, 106,259 sq. miles ; pop. 165,364. Imports 
£1,364,935. Exports £611,445, Total imports Australia (1862) 
£12,8 17,325. Exports £7,109,809. 

Then we have Gibraltar, with a population of 15,462. Imports 
(1862) £1,144,699. Exports £97,559. Malta, pop. 141,000. 
Heligoland, pop. 2172. The Bahamas, pop. 35,287; territory 
29 21 sq. miles. Bermuda, pop. (1861) 11,918. 

In the West Indies we have Antigua, pop. (1861) 36,000. 
Barbadocs, pop. 152,727. Dominica, pop. 25,065. Grenada, 
pop. 31,500. Jamaica, 6400 sq. miles; pop. (1861) 441,255. 
Montserrat, pop. 7645. Nevis, pop. 9822. St. Christoph.'s 
and Anguil, pop. 20,741. St. Lucia, pop. (1862) 27,141. St. 
Vincent, pop. 31,755. Tobago, pop. 15,410. Trinidad, pop. 
84,067. Turk's Island, pop. 4372. Virgin Island, pop. 5000. 

In South America we possess British Guinea, 76,000 sq. miles ; 
pop. 155,066. Imports £524,021. Exports £1,561,543. 

In Honduras we have a territory of 13,500 sq. miles; pop. 
25,620. Imports £118,504. Exports £299,746. 

1 low all these petty islands combine to form vast territory; how 
the thousands of populations aggregate; how the separate millions 
in money make a balance-sheet in the aggregate ! These oases in 



the desert of waters consume much and contribute much ; they 
furnish rich woods, sugars, spices, and tropical fruits ; and they 
absorb the superabundant articles which encumber, and accumulate 
in, our manufactories and warehouses. 

PROPOSED BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN CONFEDERATION. 

We next approach the colonial possessions of North America. 

The individualism of the Newfoundlander, Nova Scotian, Prince 
Edward's Islander, New Br uns wicker, and Canadian, will soon 
become obsolete ; that vast region of territory which stretches in 
magnificient breadth from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and 
from the 49th parallel, the lakes, and the St. Lawrence River to 
the boundaries of Russian America and the Arctic Ocean, is soon 
to become united in one confederacy and under one represen- 
tative of Her Majesty. 

If the reader will examine the map of North America, he will 
perceive what an extent of territory British North America occupies, 
and how unrivalled are its lines of intercommunication by sea, 
lake, and river. He cannot fail to appreciate the momentous issues 
which are involved in uniting under one authority and power the 
whole of this portion of the continent. 

In North America, the authority of Great Britain extends over 
Canada, with 350,000 square miles and a population of 2,571,000. 

New Brunswick, containing 27,700 square miles, and a popula- 
tion of 200,000. 

Nova Scotia, with 18,725 square miles, and a population of 
300,000. 

Prince Edward's Island stretches over 1,365,400 square acres, 
and contains a population of 80,856. 

Newfoundland, within its ocean-girt banks, is 36,000 square 
miles, and its population exceeds 120,000. 

The Hudson Bay Territory stretches over an area of 2,700,000 
square miles, and contains a population of 120,000. 

British Columbia and Vancouver's Island together cover 
295,000 square miles of territory, and contained a population, on 
the 10th of May, 1864, of 64,000. 



BRITISH NORTH AMERICA — EXTENT, POPULATION, IMPORTS 
AND EXPORTS. 

The whole of the British North American Territory contains 
3,429,555 square miles, being greater in extent than Great Britain 
and Ireland, France, Russia, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Turkey, Den- 
mark, Sweden, and Norway, together with Belgium, the Netherlands, 
Switzerland, and all the minor German States combined, while her 
population exceeds that of either Portugal, Denmark, Hanover, 
Saxony, Switzerland, or the Netherlands, being 4,000,000. New- 

b2 



lbundland produces over £1,000,000 a year from her fisheries. 
Prince Edward's Island exports over £300,000 annually, besides 
contributing a fleet of splendid clippers to the mercantile marine, 
whose reputation for strength, symmetrical proportion, and swiftness 
is unsurpassed by any in Aberdeen or Boston. Nova Scotia exported 
(1863) 6,546,488 dollars or £1,350,000, while her imports amounted 
to 10,201,191 dollars or £2,050,000. Over 7000 vessels entered 
her ports during the year. The imports of New Brunswick during 
the same year were 7,658,642 dollars or £1,595,513, while her 
exports during the same period, including the value of the ships 
built in her dockyards, were 8,841,936 dollars or £1,842,079. 
The exports from Canada, including the new shipping, were 
41,831,532 dollars or about £8,200,000, while her imports were 
45,964,493 dollars or £9,192,000. The quantity of new shipping 
built in all the North American Colonies in 1863 was 645 vessels, 
measuring 219,763 tons register, and of the value of £1,758,104. 
The customs and excise revenue of the five North American 
Colonies was 8,149,329 dollars, or 2 dollars 47 cents per head, or 
about 10s. sterling. 

The value of the furs exported for the past year from Hudson's 
Bay amounted to £200,000. The export of gold from Vancouver's 
Island, British Columbia, for 1863 was 6,000,000 dollars. 

PROSPECTIVE WEALTH. 

When we consider the annual product of the American fisheries ; 
that they give employment to 40.000 seamen (useful as auxilia- 
ries in time of emergency) ; the vast tracts of land as yet un- 
cultivated, and only waiting for the coming emigrant to develop 
their resources and increase the already teeming products that load 
their granaries ; the splendid fleets conveyed as it were from the 
forests to the ocean, changed as if by magic from the lofty green- 
clad tree to the graceful lines of the barque that bears her riches to 
the Old World ; the splendid cities, that for architectural beauty and 
advancement compare favourably with any on the American Con- 
tinent ; the wealth of minerals — coal, copper, iron, and gold — that 
lie embedded in the mines of Nova Scotia and the Canadas, the 
borders of Lake Superior, the valleys of the Saskatchewan, the 
sands that lie at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and permeate the 
bed of British Columbia — how unbounded are the resources of the 
American Continent ! 

Then contemplate for a moment the extended watercourses 
and outlets to the ocean — lakes vast as seas, where the commerce 
of the world may sail ; rivers stretching from the ocean until their 
delicate arteries arc lost in the pearling cascades of the far-off 
mountains ; noble harbours plentifully distributed on the Atlantic 
and Pacific coasts, each a haven for the weary voyager — and then 
consider how bravely the people have fought their way into the 



proud position they now occupy. Perilous obstacles that thwart the 
irresolute and damp the ardour of the timid, have been but 
incentives to impel them forward. How proudly must they con- 
template their marvellous increase in population, in agriculture, in 
mechanics, and in commerce ! Surely the consolidation of these 
various provinces, the blending of interests, the political affinity, the 
commercial relationship, the social commingling, and the unity of 
action which a federation would enjoin, would give them a unity 
of purpose which they would not otherwise possess. Old names, 
old parties, old jealousies, old feuds, and bitter memories would 
cease to exist ; and thus, by uniting the various interests, instead 
of a group of petty states, powerless against aggression, they 
become by consolidation a great power, with an extended territory, 
and a population which will form the nucleus of a future mighty 
empire. Remember that England, at the time of Charles II., con-, 
tained a population of only 5,000,000, or 1,000,000 more than the 
present British American Confederation ; but what a territory have 
they in comparison with England upon which to erect their nation ! 
Power demands respect, and they should have a military, naval, 
and civil force, to defend and protect themselves against all aggres- 
sive assaults. 

CONFEDERATION A MEANS OF SECURITY. 

We are all aware that nothing tempts an ambitious people so 
much as opportunity, such as the discovered weakness of a 
neighbouring power. History inculcates the lesson that the strong 
and the many overrun the weak and the unarmed. Nothing con- 
tributes so greatly to the continued harmony of commercial rela- 
tionship as mutual respect, and the knowledge that both are 
ready and possess the means to resent insult or resist aggression. 
We do not for a moment suggest the consolidation of the British 
Provinces on military grounds, or as a menace to their neighbours ; 
but rather it seems a judicious and politic move, which may place 
them in such a position that, in any emergency, they may be prepared 
to defend their territory from any sudden attack. 

Laiuless and armed, but unauthorized men, who recognize 
neither national comity, legal rights, nor personal honour, often- 
times imperil the peace of nations by their thieving and murderous 
acts, committed under the high-sounding name of ivar. Disbanded 
armies, having no occupation, degenerate into bands of brigands, 
which are alike dangerous to friend as to foe. 

The great objects to be obtained by confederation should be 
commercial, and, if possible, reciprocity of trade should be always 
maintained with the United States. The deplorable and unfortunate 
war that for the present necessarily retards the progress of that por- 
tion of America (and which God grant may soon cease !) has of 
necessity affected materially all countries who hold commercial 
relationship with her. But through the Reciprocity Act the trade of 



the British Provinces with the United States has doubled. During 
the year 1863, 3,050,369 tons of freight arrived in the United States 
from the Canadas. Besides this fact, they are so narrowly separated 
by natural lines of demarcation — the iron, steam, and bridge links of 
travel are so numerous and continuous along and across both the 
river, lake, and recognized treaty lines ; the constant current of 
human life, agricultural, mechanical, and manufactured products is 
so continuous and unceasing; in fact, in a mercantile aspect the 
Canadas and the United States are married one to the other, and 
there can be no cessation of peaceful and commercial relationship, 
unless it is brought about by political demagogues desirous of in- 
flaming the vulgar passions, or diplomatists who hold not the welfare 
of the human race as a primary consideration. Macaulay remarks 
(" History of England," vol. i., p. 370) : " The chief cause which 
made the fusion of the different elements of society so imperfect, 
was the extreme difficulty which our ancestors found in passing from 
place to place. Of all inventions, the alphabet and the printing- 
press alone excepted, those inventions which abridge distance have 
done most for the civilization of our species. Every improvement 
of means of locomotion benefits mankind morally and intellectually 
as well as materially, and not only facilitates the interchange of the 
various productions of nature and art, but tends to remove national 
and provincial antipathies, and to bind together all the branches of 
the great human family." There is another aspect of the question. 

RAILWAY ROUTE FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC. 

We are well aware that the subject of a road from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific Ocean, and the creation of a direct route for traffic and 
passengers from India, China, Japan, California, Australia, and all 
the islands in the Pacific Ocean, across the American Continent, has 
for many years occupied the attention of various Governments. 
The attempts to find a northern, or Arctic oceanic passage, have 
resulted in misfortune and disaster. Their history is that of indivi- 
dual heroism, of self-sacrificing devotion to a purpose, of cruel 
hardships bravely borne, of dreadful terrors coolly met, of deter- 
mined will and tenacious purpose overcoming many obstacles, but 
ending in disappointment and failure, and too often in misery, 
despair, privation, a lonely death, and a monument of snow. 

Topographical engineers, scientific explorers, and itineraries, 
have explored the American Continent from end to end, and the 
conclusion arrived at is that the most feasible route to the Pacific is 
through the Fertile Belt of the Hudson's Bay Territory, and over the 
Rocky Mountains north of the boundarv-line ; and as it is the pur- 
pose of the proposed confederation of the British Territories to 
complete, at an early period, the intercolonial line, uniting Nova 
Scotia to the Canadas, with the splendid system of railway which 
constitutes the Grand Trunk Railway and its connexions, we shall 



have already completed one-half of the passage across the American 
Continent, and opened a through line which, at all seasons of the 
year, will draw the products of the West through British Terri- 
tory to the sea; starting from La Crosse to St. Paul, Minne- 
sota; from Fond du Lac, at the head of Lake Superior; and from 
St. Paul we have a system of railways, which are partly built and 
which are now under contract and construction, to Pembina, on 
the boundary-line and on the Red River Settlement. This will 
open the whole of 80,000 square miles of rich prairie land in 
Hudson's Bay Territory to the emigrant. But from Pembina the 
great Fertile Belt offers every facility to build the Pacific Railroad ; 
the lands themselves will eventually pay for it. For the present 
we have a waggon-road passing over these prairies, and across the 
Saskatchewan Valley to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Carry 
out the project of a railroad to the Pacific Ocean, at whatever 
cost to the British Government or people, and the future of 
that country will present a panorama of magnificence unex- 
ampled in history, and before which the splendour of Roman 
wealth, in the days of Augustus, will sink into insignificance. The 
silks, teas, and opium of China will swiftly speed over the 
Rocky Mountains to the warehouses of Europe ; the spices 
and Oriental luxuries of India will be transported over lands 
where the red race but an age since had trapped the beaver and 
the ermine ; the re-awakened commerce of Japan would find a way 
across the prairie land of Hudson's Bay Territory ; the gold of 
California, or British Columbia,, and the Saskatchewan Valley, 
would find a safe passage by the great lakes to the Atlantic ; the wool 
of California would find a more direct route to England ; and the 
homeward and the outward bound would cross the Atlantic on their 
way to India, China, Australia, California, British Columbia, 
British North America, and the United States, in social companion- 
ship. What scenes would be witnessed on their route ! What a 
continent to journey over ! What mountains — what lakes — what 
rivers — what mighty cataracts — what lovely prairies — what splendid 
forests — and what a world of knowledge would daguerreotype 
itself upon the brain ! Remember British Columbia is teeming with 
gold, but its distance and the difficulties attendant upon reaching 
it, preclude thousands from doing so, who would, were the journey 
expeditious, cheap, direct, and feasible. Hudson's Bay, though 
controlled by a company, that even in the days of Charles II. and 
James I. could entertain the king in sumptuous magnificence, yet 
till a recent period has shut out by selfish laws all emigrants, and 
closed the doors of admittance to her hidden treasures. The 
Canadas, with millions of acres of rich land uncultivated, and with 
the surroundings of civilization attendant on them, would offer their 
attractions to the exodus of people that swarm from the Old World. 
New Brunswick would open her grand old forests, that in autumn 
are robed in colours bright as the rainbow, and gemmed with 



8 

sparkling icicles in the long winter, when the axe lays them low for 
the raftsman and the lumberer ; Nova Scotia and Prince Edward's 
Island Avould alike offer a home and a bright picture for the sober, 
industrious emigrant and the hardy pioneer ; while all along the 
coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland there is employment for 
thousands upon thousands who love a sailor's life. 

England's duty to her American colonies. 

The provinces are loyal to the British Crown ; they have with 
firm resolution and steadfast faith clung to the power that fostered 
them when weak and sheltered them in danger; they now combine 
to consolidate their interests and power and better to prepare for 
the future. They can subsist a hundred millions of inhabitants. Not 
a tithe of their wealth has been brought to light or discovered ; 
their resources cannot be even conjectured — a fit jewel to deco- 
rate a crown. New born, with every element of strength, with 
every prospect of a splendid future, and with every basis for a 
permanent and lasting Government. 



9 



CHAPTER II. 

MIGRATORY MOVEMENTS OF THE HUMAN RACE. 

Early Efforts of the Explorer, Geographer, and Navigator — America in its Primi- 
tive State — The Causes which operated to develop the Migratory Movements of 
Mankind, and the Progress hi Discovery made by various Expeditions. 



EARLY EFFORTS OF THE EXPLORER, GEOGRAPHER, AND 
NAVIGATOR. 

The present chapter will be devoted to an historical resume of the 
migratory movements of the various patriarchal families, nomadic 
tribes, and peoples who have from time to time spread and extended 
their dominion, influence, and power over the then known world 
during the different decades. 

All sciences and discoveries possess an individual history, and 
the continual additions made to this history serve as landmarks for 
the future guidance of the explorer, the geographer, the astronomer, 
the philosopher, and the student of the different sciences. To trace 
the gradual progress and development of any particular branch of 
knowledge; to watch the slow but sure elimination of light and 
truth out of darkness and ignorance ; to appreciate fully the boon 
conferred upon the present by the laborious studies, speculations, - 
explorations, and deductions of those antecedent to our own time ; 
we must consider the difficulties which attended every step in pro- 
gress and science in the earliest periods. The modern geographer 
commences his studies with a recognized doctrine of the astronomical 
circles or divisions of the sphere ; the philosopher possesses certain 
recognized truths upon which to found his theories and specula- 
tions ; the astronomer possesses the celestial map, with the locality 
of certain planets and stars clearly defined ; the traveller going 
forth to journey and to discover, finds highways and pathways 
marked out upon the map for his guidance — the labours of those 
who have preceded him have left a trail which he may follow. The 
ocean has been mapped — its distances from shore to shore, its 
currents, its depths, its shoals, and its hidden dangers, are partially 
known. The passes of the mighty mountains — 

" Rock-ribb'd, and ancient as the sun" — 

are marked out for the traveller; their comparative height, their 
distinctive features, the difficulties to be surmounted in traversing 
them, and their applicability for commercial highways. The illi- 
mitable deserts that spread vast and desolate, without tree, shrub, 
plant, or cereal to welcome the traveller, have yet been explored 
by the heroic adventurer, The jungles of India, breathing disease 



10 

and death from her miasmatic swamps, echoing with the roar of 
wild beasts, and loathsome with the hissing snake, have yet been 
penetrated by the fearless hunter. The almost interminable woods 
that impeded the advance of the pioneer, gradually fell prostrate 
and disappeared before the persevering energy and hardy strokes 
of the woodman with his axe. The frail barque has battled with 
the tempestuous hurricane, the angry and maddened waves, the 
overtopping, freezing, and frowning iceberg, and the endless 
dangers of the sea, guided by the cool navigator who bore a few 
brave hearts towards a new and undiscovered world. No obstacles 
that nature presented ; no privations attendant upon voyaging ; no 
sufferings, however appalling in their nature ; no torture that the 
vindictive and merciless savage could invent ; no uncertainties or 
doubts as to the fate of pioneers who had preceded them, or even 
the pitiless tale of survivors who had left their comrades unburied 
in an unexplored land; no warnings of certain death as the 
denouement of an expedition. The burning heat of the tropical sun, 
and the intense cold of the frigid zone, have failed to deter the brave, 
the unselfish, the worthily ambitious, or the resolute from attempts 
to extend the dominion of the flag and the nation which they so 
nobly represented ; thus opening a new and congenial sphere for the 
emigrant, and mapping out a new path for the mariner and the 
trader. 

AMERICA IN ITS PRIMITIVE STATE. 

As America four centuries ago was unknown to the dwellers of 
the eastern hemisphere, so at one time was Asia unknown to the 
dwellers of Africa and Arabia and the inhabitants of Europe. 
How well-regulated have been the discoveries of new regions to 
the increase of population, and its pressure upon circumscribed 
territory. While Pharaoh, Augustus, Hannibal, Constantine, 
Anthony, and Cresar were battling for the possession of increased 
territory, and for the supreme dominion of the world, they re- 
mained in ignorance of a continent, the relation of whose wealth 
and extent would have inflamed their ambition a thousand fold. 
Niagara poured her ocean of waters in tumultuous roar as grandly 
and as loudly then as she does now. The auriferous valleys of 
California and Columbia were as ready then as now for the miner 
and the sand-washer — ready to give their endless and incalculable 
wealth to the first hand that sought for it. The unmatchable 
prairies were gorgeous then as now, with a royalty of beauty glowing 
in the flowers that defied the imitative pencil of the artist to depict, 
or the pen of the writer to describe. Forests of oak and pine rose 
spire-like from the earth, and covered the mountains almost to their 
topmost peaks, while they spread dense and luxurious over plain 
and valley. Marbles of every hue lay buried in their richness with a 
wealth of quantity that would have built Constantine, Herculaneum, 
Pompeii, Athens, and Rome with ten thousand Colosseums and 



11 

Vaticans. Yes,, the palaces of the earth. Were there famine? — the 
rich lands of the unknown continent, uncultivated and unploughed, 
would have given free estates to armies of stalwart men, and pro- 
duced corn enough to fill the granaries of all countries. While 
Europe warred — while new dynasties were rising to again decay 
and give place to others ; while cities were extending their 
boundaries, their wealth, and their grandeur till they became the 
seats of vast dominions, so that for a time they were the wonder of 
their age, and then, by natural or artificial convulsions, their noble 
temples, their architectural columns, their splendid palaces, and 
their wealthy inhabitants were overwhelmed in ruin and death, so 
that fragments and hieroglyphics only remained to tell their story 
to some traveller who, like Caius Marius at Carthage, might weep 
over their ruins, and deplore the loss of their former splendour — 
America, in all her wealth of treasure, her magnificence of propor- 
tion, and her loveliness of apparel, slept in her undiscovered 
beauty beyond the eye of the European. Spring came budding in 
emeraldic hue ; summer threw her flowery and luxurious mantle 
over tree, shrub, and plant ; autumn glowed with her rainbow- 
tinted foliage; and winter bared the naked arms of the trees, 
stripped the dead and drooping branches of decaying leaves, and 
buried bleak mountains, vast prairies, hill and vale, river and lake, 
beneath a mantle of profound snow. The echo of the woodman's 
axe disturbed neither the merry warblers nor the timid game ; the 
roar of trade had not as yet obtained a whisper ; the silent arrow 
was the only instrument winged with death ; the stealthy tread of 
the Indian alone broke the silence, which was vast and measureless ; 
the wigwam was the only abode that approached the modern 
mansions and city villas of the opulent. 

" This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, 
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, 
Stand like Druids of old, with voices sad and prophetic — 
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosom." 

The world moved on in ignorance, and so was satisfied. 

But if America thus continued to remain in its primitive state 
for so many ages, it must be remembered that the people of the Old 
World made but little progress in discovery, despite of their rest- 
lessness and wanderings. Even to this day the geography of Africa 
is being made known to the world, through the instrumentality of 
heroic spirits like Livingstone, Speke, Grant, and Burton. 

We will now diverge somewhat from these general remarks 
and endeavour to give a concise and succinct history of the progress 
and discovery made from time to time in various lands, describing 
the manner and the date of their peopling and settlement, and 
consider for a moment what are the causes which operate as a 
stimulus and incentive to force people to leave home and country 
in search of an uncertain future. 

The love of power inherent in the human race; the desire 



12 

manifested in all ages for extended dominion ; the restless ambition 
of discontented and grasping sovereigns ; the tyranny and oppressive 
terrorism exercised over the subjugated and the weak by both 
conquerors and rulers ; the visionary hopes of adventurers in search 
of auriferous wealth; the earnest desire evinced by scientific 
navigators and explorers ; the speculations and prophecies of astro- 
nomical and geographical savans ; the wanderings of nomadic 
tribes ; and the continued pressure of a cumulative population 
within certain circumscribed limits : have each and all combined to 
enlarge, extend, and complete our geographical knowledge by the 
discovery of new countries whose existence remained for ages a 
matter of speculation and conjecture. 

THE PROGENITORS OF THE HUMAN RACE. 

Tracing our way through the dark labyrinth of antiquity, we 
perceive that the progenitors of the multitudinous races that people 
the earth were but little nomadic populations, who wandered from 
place to place till they found a congenial climate, when they settled; 
and in process of time, from families they became tribes, and at 
length they grew into great nations, that founded empires and built 
stately cities on the spots where their progenitors had pitched their 
simple tents and tended their flocks and herds. As time progressed, 
they changed their simple and peaceful habits : the herdsman, the 
shepherd, and the hunter, became the trader, the merchant, and the 
warrior; and then strifes breaking out between adjacent countries, 
through various influences, aggressive action was soon taken by the 
stronger — their domain was extended by conquest, while the weaker 
were compulsorily forced to migrate to other lands. We read also 
that as the different countries became densely populated, it was 
customary to select representatives from various tribes, who were 
required to go forth and travel, and by lengthened journeys 
endeavour to discover new countries which might become the 
nurseries for branches of the various increasing tribes. Josephus, 
the Jewish historian, relates that in the days of Noah, and in 
consequence of the confusion of tongues at Babel, the people were 
dispersed abroad, and went out by colonies everywhere, and each 
colony took possession of such lands as they lighted upon, so that the 
whole continent was filled with them, both the inland and maritime 
countries ; there were some also who passed over the sea in ships 
and inhabited the islands. " Abraham advised his sons also to go 
forth and establish colonies in Arabia, Africa, and Assyria." 
Joshua conducted the Israelites, after many years' wandering, into 
the land of Canaan. By the dispersion of the various peoples at 
Babel, and their compulsory wanderings and voyagings, we trace 
directly the foundation of the aboriginal inhabitants who occupied 
the country when the first European navigators appeared on the 
newly discovered shores of the American Continent. 



13 



MICxRATORY JOURNEYS OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN ASIA. 

When the Mesopotamia!! plain and Western Asia became 
filled with a numerous, powerful, and warlike people, which they 
soon overran, they determined to extend their influence and power 
by migratory journeys and conquest. First, Upper Armenia, then 
Caucasus, then Scythia ; after which we find migrations were 
made round and into the interior of Africa. We are informed by 
Herodotus, surnamed the " Father of History," and who wrote the 
first real and authentic history of Greece, that Necho or Pharaoh 
Necho (one of the kings of Egypt, who flourished in the seventh 
century before Christ) manned a small fleet with Phoenicians, and 
gave them directions to steer their course down the Eed Sea and 
endeavour to double the land, so as to return into the Mediterranean 
by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pillars of Hercules. Steering into 
the Southern Sea, the Phoenicians, when autumn approached, drew 
their vessels to shore, and having landed and built temporary 
abodes, they sowed crops; and having reaped them, they put to 
sea again. In this wise they toiled onward for two years. In 
the third year they passed the Pillars of Hercules and reached 
Egypt. Thus the whole of Africa had been circumnavigated. 
Yet all the discoveries made at that period were mere itineraries. 
Geography without astronomy could never expect to rise above a 
chaos of empirical systems ; without a knowledge of the spherical 
figure of the earth, of the stellary arrangement of the heavens, and 
the application of the stellary latitudes and longitudes to the various 
corresponding points of the earth, no correct or precise geographical 
knowledge could be attained. It is only by slow degrees that 
geography has struggled out of the slough of error into genuine 
scientific truth ; and so long as we were left ignorant of the pheno- 
mena of the heavens which affected the globe as to its various 
climates, its seasons, and the different productions which are seve- 
rally peculiar to different regions — so long as we were ignorant of 
the true figure of the earth, its magnitude, the relative position on 
the surface of continents, isles, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, mountains, 
countries, and peoples — so long we were compelled to rely on the 
veracity of adventurous and enterprising voyagers, and the deduc- 
tions of empirical philosophers. The continued additions of patient 
and laborious astronomers ; the accumulation of statistics furnished 
by military surveyors; the dry details collected by missionaries, and 
too long buried in the archives of monasteries ; the different wars 
which mark the various epochs — all lent their aid ; for the moment 
lands were conquered the regions were mapped and surveyed, and 
every distance traversed was described with accuracy. Thus, as 
we before remarked, war, science, religious fanaticism, compulsory 
migration, the extension of commerce, political necessity, and indi - 
vidual curiosity and enterprise, have contributed their share towards 
the exploration and discovery of distant lands. 



14 



CELEBRATED ASTRONOMERS, GEOGRAPHERS, AND TRAVELLERS. 

As astronomers and geographers who have eliminated truth 
and knowledge out of the chaos of incongruous systems, and whose 
contributions and researches have gradually developed the various 
erroneous systems into a recognized science, dissipating ignorance, 
and separating the false from the true, we have the names of Eratos- 
thenes, Hipparchus, Pliny, Ptolemy, Sebastian Munster, Artelius, 
and Mercator : in more modern times, we have Cassini, Picard, 
La Hire, Herschel, and Humboldt. 

Of travellers who have attained celebrity, we may mention 
Necho, who sent the expedition round Africa; Carpini and Rubru- 
quis, who travelled by the north of Russia, along the shores of the 
Black Sea and the Caspian, to the central plain of Asia Minor ; 
Marco Polo, a Venetian, who travelled through Tartary to China, 
and spent over twenty years in exploring the least known regions 
of Asia, and who afterwards glowingly described the barbaric 
wealth and splendour which he had seen. Louis the Fourteenth, of 
Prance, at a later day, sent Maupertius and Condamine, the one to 
explore the regions of the Arctic Circle, and the other the Equator. 
But a volume would not contain a tithe of the history of modern 
explorations in different parts of the world; we have, therefore, 
not attempted anything beyond a mere outline of the various geo- 
graphical discoveries and migratory movements which have marked 
the extension of the influence of civilization. 



1'5 



CHAP TEE III. 

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 

Scandinavian Records— Eric the Red — Speculation of Europeans— Columbus and 
his Voyages — Balboa, Magellan, Cortez — Pizarro and his Comrades — Sir 
Francis'Drake — Expeditions to he Arctic Ocean and their Result. 



SCANDINAVIAN RECORDS ERIC THE RED. 

The discovery of a New World, with, all its attendant novelties, 
must certainly form an epoch in the history of the times when it 
was made known. To trace the progress of its discovery and the 
gradual advancement made in exploring the various regions and 
their peopling, must prove of interest to those who purpose to 
follow the footsteps of countless thousands who reclaimed the woods 
and the prairies from the savage. 

If the reader will take a cursory look at the map, he will per- 
ceive the close proximity of Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Green- 
land, and the various groups of islands in the north-east, while upon 
the north-west he will find that Asia and North America are only 
separated by a narrow strait, called Behring Strait. It will at 
once be obvious that the peopling of North America from both 
Asia and Europe by this route, is not only within the bounds of 
possibility, but probability. The adventurous spirit of man would 
lead him to at least venture a few miles from his own coast in order 
that he might understand the nature of those boundaries or 
surroundings which were peculiar to his abode ; and, therefore, 
while remaining ignorant of the history of America previous to the 
year 986, a.d., and only partially and meagrely being able to trace 
any history up to the time of the discovery by Columbus, yet we 
have sufficient evidence furnished by Scandinavian records to prove 
that America was known to the inhabitants of Iceland and Norway 
long anterior to the voyages of Columbus. It is true these dis- 
coveries were made of no practical utility to the inhabitants of the 
Old World, but it is undeniable that adventurers who had been 
nurtured amidst the perils and hardships of a seafaring life did 
penetrate into the American Continent and establish commercial 
relationship to a limited extent with the natives. Iceland was 
discovered by some Scandinavians in 861, a.d., and circumnavigated 
within three years afterwards; at a later date a Norwegian colony 
was established there. We next find these colonists proceeding 
towards the south as far as Greenland, where it is related that Eric 
the Red established a colony which he christened Erico-Eiorcl, 
and which continued to exist for nearly four centuries. During the 



16 



whole of this time constant communication and intercourse was held 
with Norway. Large quantities of whale oil and seals were trans- 
mitted to the parent country, while in return the settlers received 
their necessary supplies. 

In the same year in which Eric the Red migrated to Green- 
land, Biarne, the son of one of his companions, sailing in a similar 
direction, was carried by northerly winds out of his intended course 
and beyond his destined point. He reached a land which was 
without mountains, exhibiting only gentle elevations covered 
with wood, and still further to the southward another land which 
was flat and also overgrown with wood. Standing thence out to sea, 
and sailing for three days with a south-west wind, Biarne and his 
companions arrived at a large island, the shores of which were high 
and covered with icebergs. From this last-discovered land they 
returned by four days' sailing to the colony of Greenland. The 
discoveries of Biarne were speedily followed up. Lief Ericson — 
that is, Lief, son of Eric the Red — in the year 1000, a.d., came to 
the same land which Biarne had seen, and to which he gave the 
name of Helluland. He next met with a country which he called 
Woodland; from thence he continued to journey to the eastward 
till he discovered an island where they found many vines and 
grapes. To this island they gave the name of Vinelancl, and here 
he and his companions spent three winters, and during that time 
explored the adjacent country; but afterwards failing into a 
difficulty with the natives (Esquimaux), Thomald, the brother of 
Lief Ericson, being slain, the remainder of the expedition returned 
to Greenland in 1005. The observation^ they made, and the 
descriptions which they gave upon their return of the country 
they had visited, soon prompted others to undertake voyages 
in the same direction, in hopes of making still further dis- 
coveries. The King of Norway himself seems to have been 
impressed with the story related by the returned adventurers, and 
he therefore authorized Thorform, surnamed Karisfene (one who 
is destined to be an able or great man), and related to the king, as 
well as Snorre Thorbrandsen, a noted geographer — both of whom 
were men occupying exalted and influential positions in their 
country — to form an expedition, and endeavour to reach still 
further south, and if possible establish a colony as a nucleus from 
which explorations might be made into the interior of the country. 
In the spring of 1005 the expedition, which consisted of two ships, 
and contained one hundred and sixty men, with all the attendants 
of such scientific instruments as were then known, with many of the 
party who had accompanied the former expeditions, and with ample 
provisions and all the necessaries for a three years' voyage, left 
Greenland. They found the first part of their journey both 
dangerous and tedious, and the navigation intricate, in consequence 
of the great icebergs and immense fields of ice which impeded their 
progress ; they, however, soon passed Helluland, discovered by Lief 



17 

Ericson, and Markland, discovered by the same explorer. Next 
they reached Kialarnes, inhabited by the Esquimaux. They con- 
tinued their journey southward, passed numerous islands near the 
mouth of a river, and finally reached Vineland, where they landed. 
They found a country more beautiful to the eye than their own, 
and rich in trees, corn, and flowers. They record that cattle could 
feed without being housed, and that fruit, delicious to the palate, 
but new to them, grew in abundance ; that there were vast moun- 
tains luxuriant with great forests ; that they were full of deer and 
game, and that the rivers were full of fish. But although they 
spent three winters in this attractive land — although they found 
that the seed which they had brought with them, and which they 
sowed, thrived wonderfully, and the climate was healthy and 
pleasant — yet unfortunate bickerings and quarrels with the natives 
soon brought about discord and war, and they were compelled to 
depart to their own homes after a three years' sojourn. Still the 
intercourse between Greenland and Vineland did not cease, but on 
the contrary it was carried on for over a century, that is, to 1181. 

The testimony here given is taken from the Scandinavian 
records, and is most particular in the relation of details ; and there 
can be no doubt that the Helluland of the Northmen was our present 
Newfoundland, with its naked and rocky approaches ; Markland 
answers to Nova Scotia and the adjacent forest-covered regions ; 
the keel-shaped Cape Kialarnes is the well-known Cape Cod, with 
its deserts and long narrow beaches of sand ; in the island between 
which and the neighbouring mainland Biarne sailed, we recognize 
Nantucket, with its adjacent shoals; and the pleasant Vineland is 
the region beyond the Connecticut and neighbouring New England 
States of our modern maps. 

SPECULATION OF EUROPEANS. 

But from the year 1121 to 1492 we have a blank in the 
progress of discovery. No tales had ever reached the nations 
of Southern Europe of the adventures of the hardy Northmen 
— not a whisper of the existence of a territory that was to be 
the theatre of actions so marvellous, and of a progress so unparal- 
leled, that in its contemplation the mind is lost in wonder — not a 
fugitive leaf from the Scandinavian records ever found its way into 
the libraries of Southern Europe, to tell the enthusiastic dreamers 
that their mental visions were but the positive reflex of a living, 
moving world — no wanderer ever made his way to England or 
Spain to guide the barques "of Columbus over the unfathomable 
deep. The currents of the ocean might fill the mind with specula- 
tion and conjecture ; the shipwrecked mariner washed on some deso- 
late shore pauses, and starts with mingled fear and amazement, when 
for the first time he sees clearly defined upon the sand the outline 
of the human foot ; he knows at once he is not alone — that there 



18 

before him is palpable evidence of the existence of a being like 
unto himself: and though he may doubt whether he be friend 
or foe, vet he is convinced that there must be within his reach the 
means of sustaining human life. Did the idle wanderers, as they 
strolled along the Atlantic shore, toying with the glistening peb- 
bles in the sunshine, gathering the floating seaweed that had 
journeyed over many thousand miles, or examining the strange 
natural curiosities that were wafted to them by wave and tide, ever 
pause to reflect from whence they came ? Did they think that the 
ocean swept onward without boundary and beyond the navigator's 
reach ? Did the rich and rare fruits, perhaps half decayed, that 
were left by the waves upon the sandy shore, never create con- 
jectural thoughts as from whence they came? In shape, in taste, 
and in colour they were strange to the eye and to the palate. Did 
they not wonder at the beauty and newness of the flowers that grew 
from the seeds they gathered from the faded and drooping plants 
that lay upon the wave-washed beach? Did the botanist never 
gaze with delight on the branches of trees whose formation puzzled 
his intelligence — on trees whose character differed from those indi- 
genous to his own soil, whose trunks were greater in circumference, 
whose wood was rich in colour and beautiful in grain, and whose 
branches were arranged with marvellous beauty ? What more 
perfect to his eye than the expanding fan-like leaf of the palmetto, 
or sweeter to the taste than the stately sugar-cane ? There were 
branches of innumerable and yet unknown varieties of trees ; there 
were weeds of exquisite and delicate texture and form ; there were 
images quaint, grotesque, and peculiar : there were, finally, the poor 
silent bodies of the dead of an unknown race (that peopled not their 
own land) found lying on the rugged rocks and bare sands where 
the receding waves had left them. Was it to be wondered at that 
men of a contemplative and reflective character conjectured that 
these were the evidences of a land peopled beyond the Atlantic — 
that they interpreted it to mean that these were sigm to tell them 
that if they would but venture they might discover " a land flowing 
with milk and homey." The spherical nature of the earth had be- 
come a positive belief in the mind of Columbus ; the marvellous 
narrative of Marco Polo had strengthened his belief in a Western 
World, or at least in a passage to India and China — the fond hope 
of the explorer to discover. All the evidences which the shore could 
give, all the theories he could build up from the study of the map of 
Ptolemy, the golden-tinted pictures of Marco Polo, and the fond 
hopes of his own buoyant nature, assisted him in battling against 
every obstacle, every disappointment, and every opposing force that 
seemed to delay the accomplishment of that which had now become 
to him the dream of his life. It is said that " all great discoveries, 
whether in the physical or the moral world, are the consequences of 
prior trains of thought and events." The classic fable of a Minerva 
springing full armed from the brain of Jupiter, has no parallel in 



19 

the actual world of human nature. The dreams of the visionary- 
enthusiast point towards the conclusions which a later age carries 
into active being — the loose and scattered events which, taken singly, 
point to no conclusion, are combined by the philosophical observer 
into a connected train, and important consequences educed from the 
consideration to which they lead. All the signs on the sandy 
shores — all the fervid belief of the age was in favour of the exist- 
ence of a great western region ; and Columbus, besides this, be- 
lieved that, by philosophic induction, he was certain of its existence. 
Once convinced, and his whole soul was in his dream of success. 
He petitioned Ferdinand and Isabella — he conversed with the most 
celebrated savans of Spain upon his projects — he endeavoured to 
obtain the assistance of all who had power within the magic circle of 
the Court — he tried to enlist the sympathies of the rich and the 
influential. Long were his delays and patient were his endeavours, 
but he never faltered. Ever earnest, ever steadfast, and ever hopeful 
of success, despondency never claimed him as a victim for an hour. 
The day of triumph came — the day when the means were to be 
placed at his disposal for the fulfilment of his project had arrived. 
A generous and noble Castilian lady, with a crown upon her brow, 
became his patron, and through her agency Columbus was provided 
with an armament sufficient, with good fortune and fair winds, to 
accomplish his desire. To Isabella of Spain is the honour due of 
encouraging with her money, her good wishes, and her smiles, the 
expedition which discovered America ; and yet in all that land no 
single monument is erected to her honour and her glorious memory. 

COLUMBUS AND HIS VOYAGES. 

Three small vessels carrying ninety men set sail from Palos, on 
the coast of Spain, on a bright September morning. The shores 
were lined with a noble concourse of spectators. Proud Castilian 
maidens and noble Spanish cavaliers cheered Columbus as he de- 
parted, though they looked upon his errand as madness. A long and 
stormy passage ensued, dissention and mutiny broke out amid the 
crew, and all the anticipations of a successful issue seemed gradually 
passing away; but the heart of the bold and heroic navigator was true 
as steel, and his resolution never faltered. Firm in the conviction that 
ere long he would descry the wished-for land — strong in the belief 
that a glorious conclusion would be the result of his laborious 
journey — he sailed on ; and as the sun went down, crimsoning the 
west, on the 1 1th day of October, 1492, a new world, and the home 
of future millions, dawned upon his delighted eye. 

The spot on which Columbus landed was the small island of 
Guanahani, or San Salvador, one of the Bahama Archipelago. 
After visiting Hayti, or Hispaniola, where he left some of his crew 
who desired to settle, he returned to Europe to report the result of 
his discoveries, and to receive the congratulations of his sovereign. 

c 2 



20 



Columbus made four voyages to America. The second was in 1498, 
when he discovered Jamaica. The third in 1498. when Trinidad 
and other islands were added to his previous discoveries. In his 
fourth and last voyage, in 1502, he visited the western shores 
of the Caribbean Sea, and then explored the coasts of Central 
America. 

Among those who formed the second expedition of Columbus 
was Alonzo de Hojeda. This individual, impressed with the belief 
that Columbus had neither realized the true value nor vast extent 
of the territories lying in the western hemisphere, determined upon 
following up the discoveries of his former master. He, in con- 
junction with Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine pilot, set out upon 
their voyage of discovery, the result of which they gave to the world 
in a series of volumes. All the discoveries of Columbus were con- 
fined to Central and South America, and the existence of North 
America was unknown to him, so that he died in ignorance of the 
full value of his discovery, he believing he had arrived at the verge 
of the Indies. To Amerigo Vespucci, w r ho gave his name to the 
New World, we contend, belongs the honour. " History presents 
elsewhere no example of the universal excitement which the dis- 
coveries of Columbus awakened, and of the sustained enthusiasm 
by which they were followed up. The young, the adventurous, 
the needy, the discontented of every grade — those who felt the 
pressure of social wrong (real or imagined), under whatever form, 
in the countries of Europe — hastened to amend their lot in the 
newly-found lands beyond the Atlantic. The cry of ' Westward, 
ho!' became the rallying signal for people of every class, and of 
every age ; and still, after the lapse of nearly four centuries, the 
fervour called into being by Columbus maintains its existence, and 
produces its active fruits. Visions of El Dorado glittering in their 
golden wealth floated before the eyes of the earlier and more 
sanguine adventurers from Spain, and lent their charm to not a few 
of those bold spirits who ere long hoisted the flag of Britain above 
the western waters. To discovery, and the first fruits of discovery 
— reaped amidst ferocious and unrelenting barbarity practised by 
the early Spaniards towards the simple and unoffending natives of 
the New World — succeeded permanent settlement, with its atten- 
dant commerce and social polity ; and cities grew up beside the 
coasts and rivers of the newly-colonized regions of the West." The 
works of the European race supplanted those that already existed 
ere the white man had placed his foot on the American shores ; the 
native erections, abandoned to neglect, became buried amidst the 
thick overgrowth of the forest and the tropical jungle, to be redis- 
covered in the present time, and to excite regret that they alone 
remain to tell of the partial civilization which the Indian population 
had attained, and which the tide of Spanish conquest so ruthlessly 
destroyed. Prcscott and Squier in their laborious history have 
preserved descriptions of the magnificent ruins that attest the mighty 



21 

splendours that adorned the Montezumas and the palaces of Cen- 
tral America. 



BALBOA, MAGELLAN, CORTEZ, PIZARRO AND HIS COMRADES. 

In 1513, Nunez'Balboa crossed the isthmus that divides the Gulf 
of Darien from the Pacific. Seven years later Fernando Magellan, 
who believed in the existence of a continuous , ocean round the 
southern half of America, determined on attempting its discovery. 
He sailed from San Lucar, on the coast of Spain, in 1519, and 
having wintered at Port San Julian, in latitude 49°, early in the 
spring, he pursued his way until he passed though a strait, which 
he named Magellan, and then entered the Pacific Ocean. In three 
months and twenty days Magellan crossed the immense sea and 
reached the Philippine Islands. Here he engaged in a conflict 
with the natives, when he lost his life. His companions, with the 
Vittoria — the only remaining ship of the five comprising the ex- 
pedition — returned to Europe, having passed across the Indian 
Ocean and round the Cape of Good Hope ; and thus, in three years 
and fourteen days, had achieved the remarkable and memorable 
accomplishment of the first circumnavigation of the globe. 

Pursuing in chronological order the advancement in discovery, 
we next meet with the stories of Cortez and Pizarro. Fernando 
Cortez landed on the coast of Mexico in 1519; with a few hundred 
followers he overthrew the empire of Montezuma, and conquered 
Mexico. A few years later, Peru and the sovereignty of the Incas 
were conquered by Francisco Pizarro. Almagro, a companion of 
Pizarro, about the same period made himself master of Chili. Next 
we hear of Francisco de Orellana, who accompanied Gonzales 
Pizarro across the mountain ranges of the Cordilleras. After 
leaving Pizarro, who became disheartened, he built boats and 
canoes, and having launched them on the river which crossed 
his path, he descended its current until he reached the Atlantic 
Ocean, having travelled over a thousand leagues. This was in the 
year 1541. 

In the year 1500, Pedro Alvarez Cabral, a Portuguese, while 
making a voyage to the Indies by the way of Good Hope, dis- 
covered Brazil. In 1514, Juan de Soils discovered the river La 
Plata. This river was christened La Plata, or the i( Kiver of Silver," 
by Sebastian Cabot, who ascended it in 1526. 

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 

In 1577 Sir Francis Drake sailed from Plymouth, and having 
passed through the Strait of Magellan, carried the banner of Eng- 
land into the Pacific Ocean. He explored the coasts as far up as 
28~ N., and returned to Europe after an absence of two years and 
ten months. 



22 



Sir Francis Drake was followed by the expedition of Sarmiento, 
a.d. 1581, and the Dutch expedition under Schonter in 1615, both 
of which sailed along the extreme southern extremity of the New 
World. 

EXPEDITIONS TO THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 

While the minds of so many were directed to the southern and 
central regions of America, and seemed to rest self-satisfied with 
the conviction that they had discovered the track to India, others 
believed in the existence of a north-western passage, and turned 
their energies in a northern direction, in hopes of crossing from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific by the Arctic Circle. 

" When we contemplate," says Cooley, in his i( History of Mari- 
time and Inland Discovery," " the early discoveries of the Spaniards 
and Portuguese, we see needy adventurers and men of desperate 
character and fortune pursuing gain or licentiousness with violence 
and bloodshed. But the English navigators who, in the reign of 
Elizabeth, sought to extend our knowledge of the globe, were men 
of a different stamp, and driven forward by motives of a more 
honourable nature. They undertook the most difficult navigation 
through seas perpetually agitated by storms and encumbered with 
ice, in vessels of the most frail construction and of small burthen ; 
they encountered all the difficulties and distresses of a rigorous 
climate, and in most cases with a very distant or with no prospect of 
ultimate pecuniary advantage." 

Among these was John Cabot, a native of Venice, but who had 
settled in Bristol, in England, during the reign of Henry VII. In 
1496 a patent was granted to Cabot and his three sons, Louis, 
Sebastian, and Sansius, giving the right to acquire and settle in the 
unknown lands which they were in search of. Sebastian Cabot 
" understanding," says the chronicler, " by reason of the sphere, that 
if he should sail by way of the north-west, he should by a shorter 
track come to India, he thereupon caused the king to be advertised 
of his device." Setting out accordingly in two small <( caravels " 
furnished for the purpose, he sailed to the north-westward from the 
English coast, " not thinking to find any other land than that 
of China, and from thence to turn towards India." Thus was the 
famous search after the " north-west passage " inaugurated. 

On the 24th of June, in 1497, they arrived at the banks 
of Newfoundland, where they landed. During the autumn of 
this year and the spring and summer of the following year 
they explored a great part of the coast of North America. In 
1576-7-8, Martin Frobisher made three voyages, and reached 
as far north as Frobisher's Strait in 1585-6-7. John Davis 
made three attempts to discover the north-west passage. Henry 
Hudson followed, 1607 to 1610, and discovered Hudson's Bay. 
Thomas Britton entered Hudson's Bay and crossed to the extreme 
western side in 1613. William Baffin, in 1615, though he failed to 



find a north-west passage, added largely to the geographical 
knowledge of the day j the highest point reached by him was the 
immense inlet which is called Baffin's Bay. In 1728, Behring, a 
Pole, in the employ of Peter the Great of Russia, crossed over from 
Asia, and discovered Behring's Strait, proving the separation of 
the American and Asiatic continents. In 1762, Captain Cook 
passed through this channel and coasted the Arctic shores as 
far as Icy Cape, under the meridian of 162° \V. In 1669, the 
Hudson's Bay Company was established. In 1771, Samuel Hearne 
discovered and traced the course of the Coppermine River. In 
1789, Alexander Mackenzie traced the Mackenzie River to its 
source. In 1818, another attempt was made to find an opening to 
the Western or Pacific Ocean. The expedition consisted of two 
vessels, the Isabella and the Alexander, under the command of 
Captain (afterwards Sir John) Ross and Lieutenant (afterwards Sir 
Edward) Parry. This expedition proceeded as far as Lancaster 
Sound, and proved comparatively a failure. Parry, in a second 
voyage, however, passed through Lancaster Sound, Barrow's Strait, 
and wintered at Melville Island, at the meridian of 113°, having 
advanced over half the distance towards Behring's Strait — 600 
miles. At the same time that Parry was sailing through Lancaster 
Sound, Lieutenant (afterwards Sir John) Franklin, Doctor (after- 
wards Sir John) Richardson, and Mr. (afterwards Sir George) 
Back, passed overland and traced the Coppermine River to its 
outlet in the Arctic Ocean. During this journey they explored 
many thousands of miles of the Hudson's Bay Territory. 

SECOND EXPEDITION BY FRANKLIN, RICHARDSON, AND BACK. 

In 1825, Pranklin, Richardson, and Back undertook a second 
expedition overland, and through the dreary regions of the frozen 
north, and again explored the territory between the Coppermine 
and the Mackenzie rivers. In 1826, 1837-8, 1838-9, other expedi- 
tions through these regions were made by Beechey, Dease, Simpson, 
and Back, who went as far as the meridian 148° 52', and to the Icy 
Cape, discovered by Captain Cook. In 1815, the spirit of Polar 
adventure awoke with renewed ardour, and Sir John Pranklin set 
out upon that journey which has thrown such a lamentable cloud 
over all connected with that region, and which for so many years 
excited the sympathy of the world, and the noble efforts of brave 
souls to trace his wanderings, his sojournings, and his grave. In 
May, 1815, the Erebus and Tensor set sail from Sheerness, and the 
last ever seen of them was near Baffin's Bay, by the Esquimaux, 
on the west coast of King William Land, in 1850. We know that 
Franklin died in the summer of 1847. The survivors abandoned 
the ships, and started for the Great Pish River. Exhaustion and 
intense severity of climate must have completed the work which 
prior suffering had already commenced. " They dropped by the 



u 

way " (to quote the expressive words of the Esquimaux), and not 
one of the brave adventurers who composed Franklin's party ever 
returned within the confines of civilized life. The names of Kae, 
M'Clintock, M'Clure, Penny, Inglefield, Belcher, Heme, Hall, and 
others, are indissolubly connected with the history of Arctic disco- 
very; they enlarged and extended our geographical knowledge, 
and the continuity of an icy channel between the two oceans was 
proved conclusively through their researches. Their unselfish 
heroism — their noble tenacity of purpose, manifested during unex- 
ampled hardships and sufferings — their earnest devotion to science, 
and their contributions to our geographical knowledge, have 
crowned their names with imperishable glory. 



25 



CHAPTEE IV. 

THE PROGEESS OF COLONIZATION. 

The Colonization of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, 
Nova Scotia, and the Canadas (Upper and Lower). 



NEWFOUNDLAND. 



Newfoundland was discovered on the 24th of June, 1497, by- 
John Cabot, who attempted its colonization in conjunction with his 
sons and those of his companions who were desirous of settling with 
him. He bore a charter and grant from Henry VII. of England, 
giving him the right and title to all such lands as he should dis- 
cover. The aborigines who dwelt upon the island were, however, 
of a most savage character ; and, after suffering severe hard- 
ships, and engaging in hostile conflicts with them, they finally 
abandoned the attempt, and sailed for Nova Scotia. In 1576 Sir 
Humphery Gilbert, a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh, made an 
attempt to colonize the island, but it proved equally unsuccessful. 
In 1583 he made another attempt, landed at St. John's, and took 
formal possession in the name of his mistress, Queen Elizabeth. He 
was accompanied by two hundred adventurers, whom he left there, 
and departed for England, but on the voyage the ship in which he 
had embarked foundered at sea. In 1620 Lord Bacon and others 
established a colony at Conception Bay. In 1617 Captain Whit- 
bourne established a settlement at Little Britain ; they found the 
land sterile and uncultivated, abounding in great white bears 
and elks. The discoverers called this country by a name signifying 
"rich in fish/' from the numbers which swarmed in the rivers and 
along the sea-coast. The inhabitants were wild and unfriendly, 
clothed with the skins of beasts, and painted with a reddish clay. 

In 1623 Sir George Calvart (Lord Baltimore, who settled 
Maryland) formed a settlement here. In 1631 Lord Falkland sent 
a number of Irish families here, and, providing them with every 
means necessary for fishing and agriculture, they obtained a per- 
manent footing on the island, and for a long while prospered 
harmoniously. In 1646 there were sixteen settlements flourishing 
on the coast of Newfoundland ; there were at that time over 350 
families of British extraction, a large addition to which was made 
by Sir David Kirk in 1654. But after years of toil, suffering, and 
hardship, the British Government, whose duty and interest would 
seem alike to extend their protection and fostering care, commenced 
that mistaken policy towards the colonists which in the end cost us 
so dearly on the American Continent. An edict, cruel in its nature. 



26 



impolitic in principle, and insane in its intent, was promulgated by 
the " Lords of Trades and Plantations." They seemed afraid that 
the colonists might succeed ; they systematically discouraged 
• agriculture, and finally entirely prohibited it. The colonists who 
rebelled at this edict were expelled from the territory, their lands 
confiscated, their houses destroyed, and in some instances death was 
inflicted upon them. It was the policy of the British Government 
at that time to force the colonists to occupy themselves with the 
fisheries, and to draw their supplies from the old country. In 
1696 the French seized the English settlements, and from this 
period till the year 1815 the whole island was a scene of bloody 
conflict, atrocious cruelty, and inhuman oppression between the 
French and the English. The treaties of Utrecht, 1715 ; of Paris, 
1763; of Versailles, 1783; and of Paris, 1814 and 1815, finally 
settled the right of possession, and it was adjudged to be the 
property of Great Britain. 

The natives met with in the first discovery of Newfoundland 
were supposed to be the descendants of Biorn, a sea-king of Ice- 
land, Avho took possession of this island in the .year 1001. The 
author of " Hochelaga" gives the following history of the natives 
found here by the European settlers : — "They were fierce men, of 
stalwart frame, and intractable disposition ; their complexion was of 
a dark red ; they were bold fishers and hunters, and of courage in 
battle. From the first, they and the white men were deadly foes. 
The Mic-Mac Indians of Nova Scotia and these red men carried on 
a war of extermination against each other for centuries ; each 
landing with destructive swoop on the other's coasts, scalping the 
men, and carrying the women into slavery. The Esquimaux war- 
riors were more frequently victorious, till, in an evil hour, they pro- 
voked the wrath of the pale-faces. The rifle and the bayonet soon 
broke their spirit. Abandoning the coasts and the hunting-grounds 
of their fathers, they fled into the dreary forests of the interior. 
Sometimes, in the long winter nights, they crept out from their 
wild fastnesses, and visited some lonely hamlet with a terrible 
vengeance. The settlers in return hunted them down like wolves. 
In the course of years their life of misery reduced their numbers 
and weakened their frames so much that they never ventured to 
appear. It was known that some few still lingered, but they were 
almost forgotten. 

" The winter of 1830 was unusually severe in this country, and 
prolonged beyond those of former years. Towards its close, a 
settler was hewing down trees at some distance from one of the 
remote villages, when two gaunt figures crept out from the neigh- 
bouring e bush ;' with sad cries and imploring gestures, they tried 
to express their prayer for help. The white man, terrified by their 
uncouth and haggard looks, seized his gun, which lay at hand, and 
shot the foremost ; the other tossed his lean arms wildly into the 
air— the woods rang with his despairing shrieks as he rushed away. 



27 

Since then none of the fallen race have been seen. The emaciated 
frame of the dead man showed how dire had been their necessity. 
There is no doubt that the last of the red men perished in that 
bitter winter." 

NEW BRUNSWICK. 

New Brunswick, now a distinct colony, formed a part of Nova 
Scotia till the year 1785. It was first settled in 1762, by a party 
from Massachusetts. When the independence of the United States 
was declared in 1783, numerous bodies of Royalists sailed from 
New York and settled in New Brunswick. Most of these were 
the men and their families who had joined the British army during 
the revolutionary struggle. For two or three years they were 
greatly assisted by the Government until they had cleared suffi- 
cient land, erected houses, and gathered in crops, and were prepared 
alike to resist the inclemency of the seasons, the rigours of the cli- 
mate, and the assault of savages. From the time that New Bruns- 
wick was separated from Nova Scotia, in 1785, until 1803, the 
province was governed by Sir Guy Carleton, under whose paternal, 
firm, and judicious administration the country gradually advanced 
from a rude wilderness to a permanent and prominent position 
among its sister colonies. In 1815, on the conclusion of the second 
war with the United States, another large body of disbanded mili- 
tary was added to the inhabitants. From this time forward the 
population steadily increased — in 1824 it being computed at 
80,000. 

miNCE edward's island. 

This island was discovered by Sebastian Cabot in 1497. 
It was first used by the French as a fishing-station, in 1663; 
they began to colonize it about the beginning of the eighteenth 
century. The settlers evinced a great interest in the con- 
tinual wars between the French and English, and took an active 
part in the contests that were waged. In 1752 the population was 
estimated at 1354. In 1758, in consequence of the expulsion of 
the Acadians from Nova Scotia, the population nearly doubled. 
By the treaty of Fontainbleau in 1763, it became a dependency of 
Great Britain. In 1764, the whole territory was surveyed and 
divided into sixty-seven townships. " These townships or lots, or 
parts of them, with certain reservations, were to be granted to 
parties having claims upon the Government, upon certain conditions 
of settlement, and the payment of quit-rents. Lot 66, about 
six thousand acres, was reserved for the Crown ; lots 40 and 
59 had already been promised to parties who had made improve- 
ments on them. Sixty-four townships or lots remained to be 
disposed of. There were more applicants than lots ; so they were 
disposed of by means of the ballot-box. When an individual was to 
receive a whole lot, his name alone appeared on the slip of paper ; 



in other cases, two and sometimes three names were inscribed on 
one paper, as sharers in one lot. Upwards of one hundred indi- 
viduals participated in these grants, which were made in 1767. 

The quit-rents were of three rates : six shillings, four shillings, 
and two shillings annually per hundred acres. The grantees were 
to settle on each lot — a settler for every two hundred acres. This 
arrangement proved a failure, for in 178 1 nine whole and five half 
townships were sold for the payment of quit-rents. The non- 
residence of the proprietors, the coercive measures adopted by the 
Home Government (which compelled the emigrants to be Protestants 
who were not from Great Britain), and the pressure of the quit- 
rents, combined to retard emigation. It was not until these bur- 
densome conditions were removed, and the Earl of Selkirk settled 
eight hundred Highlanders there in 1803, that the first permanent 
impulse to settlement was given. The settlers who now took up 
their homes were a frugal and industrious class of small farmers, 
and soon advanced in comfort and wealth. Since this time, with 
the natural increase of population and the importations from Great 
Britain, the colony has flourished and prospered ; and in 1832 the 
population had increased to 32,292, 



NOVA SCOTIA. 

The attempts to colonize Nova Scotia date back to an 
early period. In 1598 Henry IV. of France empowered the 
Marquis de la Roche to make a settlement ; in 1613 the governor 
of Virginia, Sir Samuel Argall, broke up this settlement. In 1621 
James I. of England granted the whole country, by letters patent, 
to Sir William Alexander, a Scottish nobleman. A large fleet of 
vessels, with several hundred hardy pioneers, soon set sail for the 
colony, whose name had been changed from French Acadia to 
Nova Scotia. In 1632 Charles I. ceded both Acadia and Canada 
to France. In 1654 it was captured by the British. In 1677 it 
was again ceded to France by the treaty of Breda. In 1690 it was 
recaptured for the British by Sir William Phipps. By the treaty of 
Ryswick in 1696 it was restored to France. In 1710 the people of 
Massachusetts conquered a portion of Nova Scotia ; but by the 
treaty of Utrecht in 1713 "all Nova Scotia, with its ancient 
boundaries, as also the city of Port Royal and the inhabitants of 
the same," were ceded to Great Britain. 

In 1749 the Hon. Edward Cornwallis was appointed governor, 
and he sailed for Nova Scotia with 3760 families. He landed, 
and commenced the erection of a city, which he named after his 
patron, the Earl of Halifax. The French settlers in New Bruns- 
wick, Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton, caused the new comers great 
trouble and annoyance. They allied themselves with the Indians, 
and made continual depredatory excursions, which resulted in a 
succession of conflicts and disasters* In 17o5 the French (Acadians) 



29 

were removed to the number of nearly seven thousand. In 1763 
Cape Breton was annexed to Nova Scotia — separated in 1784 — 
and finally, in 1819, they were permanently joined. In 1784 New 
Brunswick was separated from Nova Scotia and erected into a 
separate province. Nova Scotia owed much of her early advance- 
ment to the Royalists from the American Colonies, who, during and 
after the War of Independence, emigrated there to the number of 
twenty thousand. 

THE CANADAS, UPPER AND LOWER. 

In the month of May, 1535, Jacques Carrier, having visited 
Newfoundland, set sail again westward, passed the north side 
of Anticosti, and ascended the St. Lawrence River until he 
reached the mouth of a river which he called the Saguenay. 
The country round about he christened Hochelaga. In a 
work called " Hochelaga ; or, England in the New World " 
(London, 1846), we find many interesting and pleasing descriptions 
of the early history of the British Colonies of North America. 
Speaking of Jacques Carrier's early voyage, it says : " During the 
voyage up the stream they passed shores of great beauty; the 
climate was genial, the weather warmer than that of France, and 
everywhere they met with unsuspicious friendship. They found 
Hochelaga a fortified town among rich corn-fields, on an island 
under the shade of a mountain, which they called Mont Royal. 
Time has changed it to Montreal. The old name, like the old 
people, is long since forgotten. *The inhabitants had stores of corn 
and fish laid up with great care ; also tobacco, which the Europeans 
saw here for the first rime. The natives were courteous and friendly 
in their manners — some of them of noble beauty. They bowed to 
a great Spirit, and knew of a future state. Their king wore a 
crown, which he transferred to Jacques Carrier. But when they 
brought their sick and infirm, trusting to his supernatural power to 
heal, the Christian soldier blessed them with the cross, and prayed 
that Heaven might give them health." Soon after this the adven- 
turers returned to France, carrying with them one of the kings or 
chiefs, who soon died of melancholy and grief. Four years later, 
another adventurer, the Sieur de Roberval, landed at the mouth of 
the St. Charles River, but, instead of being met in the same friendly 
spirit the Indians had received Jacques Carrier and his compatriots 
upon the former visit, they at once declared them invaders, and 
threatened their extermination. To protect themselves against the 
hostility and vengeance of the justly offended Indians, w T ho remem- 
bered the forced extradition of their king, they erected a strong 
fortification at the village of Charlesbourg. In 1549, after a few 
years of internal contention and external violence with the savages, 
they returned to France. Many years — in fact, nearly half a cen- 
tury — elapsed before any attempt was made to extend French sway 



30 



in this territory. Some few individuals succeeded in trading and 
bartering with them for fur to a limited extent, but no combined 
attempt to colonize was made until De Mont, with a great piratical 
fleet, made his appearance, and marked his path with crime, cruelty, 
bloodshed, devastation, and extermination. Next came Champlain, 
who sailed up the St. Lawrence River, and founded the city of 
Quebec ; and, after cultivating for a time the rich valleys of the St. 
Charles, he, in company with many of his followers, set out upon 
an exploring expedition to the great Western Lakes. All the terri- 
tory north of the St. Lawrence River and the lakes he called Canada, 
or New France. The new settlers met at the outset with the same 
obstacles to the peaceful pursuit of their voyage which had marked 
the history of all attempts at settling or permanently occupying the 
country. The Indians attacked them vigorously and continuously, 
and often with the most deplorable results ; in the end, however, they 
were compelled to succumb to their less numerous but more civilized 
opponents, and after a time they sought their alliance. But other 
antagonistic elements were at work to retard their progress — other 
agents, which are ever the accompaniments of civilization, quickly 
decimated their numbers, and the pale-face soon domineered as lord 
and master. The continuous wars, too, that were desolating Europe 
found their dark shadows sweeping over the young colonies in the 
New World. The blood of England and Erance had been transplanted 
to these shores, and, instead of the emigrant pursuing his peaceful 
occupation and reclaiming the soil, he seized the flint-lock instead 
of the pruning-hook. The Indiaris were invited to display, in all 
its merciless and horrible aspect, their mode of warfare upon the 
English, who occupied the southern banks of the St. Lawrence. 
Success alternately smiled upon the fortunes of both parties, but the 
atrocities that were committed on the defenceless and the helpless, 
the uncalled-for cruelties that characterized that long period of 
warfare which culminated in the battle on the heights of Abraham 
and decided the supreme sovereignty of Britain, is one of the darkest 
pages in the history of that period. Still emigration did not flourish, 
or the settler make much progress in penetrating the dense forests, 
for we read that " Upper Canada, only eighty years ago, was a 
wilderness from the Ottawa to the St. Clair." Despite the attempts 
which had been made so continuously by the French, this great 
province seemed to have remained in almost its primeval purity, 
vastness, and extent. About 1783, the British settlement commenced, 
and a revolution of progress was at once apparent. In 1791, Upper 
Canada was made a distinct province, and divided into four districts 
— the Eastern, Midland, Home, and Western. In 1782, Upper 
Canada had only 10,000 inhabitants ; in 1824 she had 152,000; 
while in 1829 she possessed a population of 225,000. In the year 
1829, agricultural societies were introduced in the several districts 
of the province, and the Imperial Government lent every assistance 
to promote the cultivation of the lands 



31 



CHAPTEE V. 

STATISTICS OF NEWFOUNDLAND, PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND, AND 

NOVA SCOTIA. 

Newfoundland : Agriculture ; Government ; Fisheries ; Shipping ; Imports and 
Exports; Population — Prince Edward's Island: Industrial Resources ; Imports 
and Exports ; Counties, Towns, and Population ; Education ; Government — 
Nova Scotia : The Seasons ; Botanical Productions ; Shipping ; Agriculture ; 
Fisheries ; Commerce ; Population ; Quadrupeds, Birds, and Fish ; Crown 
Lands ; Education ; Government ; Halifax ; Gold- Fields ; Minerals. 



NEWFOUNDLAND. 

Newfoundland embraces 36,000 square miles. It lies upon the 
eastern side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; the Strait of Belleisle 
divides it from the coast of Labrador. The coast is open to the 
Atlantic on three sides — north, south, and east. The shores are 
exceedingly rugged and irregular in outline, and exhibit a suc- 
cession of deep bays and estuaries, with peninsulas and headlands 
between. Many of the inlets form good and commodious harbours. 
The principal bays are the Bay of Conception, Bonavista, Notre 
Dame, Trinity, White, and Hare upon the eastern and northern 
coasts ; of St. George upon the western side ; and of Fortune, 
Placentia, and St. Mary upon the south. 

Newfoundland is a series of barren and rocky districts, with here 
and there a few tracts of alluvial soil along the rivers. But few 
cattle are reared, and the crops of barley and oats scarcely ripen. 
The interior is hilly and swampy, and traced and dotted with 
many lakes and rivers. 

The winter is long and very severe. Fogs are prevalent during 
many months of the year. The summers are dry and the heat 
intense. In winter the snow-storms are violent and accompanied 
by hurricanes. 

The following statistics show the progressing increase in agri- 
culture and neat cattle : — 

In 1845 there were 83,435 J acres of land in possession, and 
29,656£ acres under cultivation, the value of which was 2,990,625 
dollars ; horses, 2409, valued at 120,450 dollars; neat cattle, 8135 
— value, 203,375 dollars ; sheep, 5750 — value, 23,750 dollars ; 
goats, 5791 — value, 28,955 dollars; hogs, 5077 — value, 39,075 
dollars; bushels of potatoes, 853,352£ ; bushels of grain, 11,695; 
tons of hay and fodder, 11,013. 

In 1857 (the latest census taken) the whole of the improved 
land of the island was 46,616| acres. Tons of hay cut, 16,250 ; 
bushels of oats raised, 9438; bushels of wheat and barley, 1932|; 



32 

bushels of potatoes raised, 571,480; bushels of turnips, 12,832; 
bushels of other roots, 3502 ; bushels of clover and timothy seed, 
731J. Number of neat cattle, 12,962; milch cows, 6924; horses, 
3509; sheep, 10,737; swine and goats, 17,551. Butter made, 
134,968 lbs. ; cheese, 158 lbs. There are a few factories, which 
are principally devoted to the manufacture of cod-liver oil. 

In 1857 there were 80 vessels built, of the combined ton- 
nage of 2427 ; there were also 630 boats built, besides which 
the island owned 212 vessels, the tonnage of which was 6229. 

GOVERNMENT. 

The Government of Newfoundland is conducted and controlled 
by the Lieutenant-Governor, appointed by the Home Government, 
and he is assisted by the Legislative Council and the House of 
Assembly. Every male member of the population being twenty- 
one and renting a house is entitled to a vote for any elective officer. 

The Judiciary consists of a Supreme Court, with a Chief Justice 
and two Assistant-Justices. There is also a Central Circuit Court 
and a Court of Vice-Admiralty. There are five hundred and fifty 
miles of electric telegraph laid, as well as a submarine line from 
A spy Bay, Cape Breton, to Cape Ray, Newfoundland. The tariff 
is three dollars, or twelve shillings sterling, for ten words. 



FISHERIES. 

The Fisheries are of course the principal source of income to 
Newfoundland, and we shall, therefore, give a somewhat detailed 
description of them. They are of great value, and comprise salmon, 
cod, herrings, mackerel, caplin, and seal. 

The banks of Newfoundland are of submarine elevation, and 
spread over an area of six or seven hundred miles in length. The 
Great Bank is 300 miles from north to south and 250 miles from 
east to west. The depth of the water is various, in some places 
being only fifteen fathoms, in others eighty fathoms ; and the tem- 
perature is lower by 10° than that of the surrounding ocean. 
The abundance of codfish which are found here is extraordinary 
and unparalleled. 

The fishermen who arc usually engaged in cod-fishing, employ 
the early months of the year in catching seals, which they find in 
great quantities upon the floating ice; early in June this occupation 
is changed for cod-fishing. In a commercial sense there are three 
qualities of cod — first, the best and largest fish, called merchantable 
fish ; second, the Madeira fish, a medium variety, which serves to 
supply the Spanish or Portuguese markets ; third, the inferior 
qualities, which are exported to the West Indies for the use of the 
negroes. 

In 1849 the dried codfish exported was valued at 2,825,895 



33 

dollars; in 1857 the value was over three millions of dollars, or 
£600,000. 

In 1852 there were 367 vessels, of 35,760 tons, manned by 
13,000 men, which took 550,000 seals. In 1857 there were 
802 vessels, with a tonnage of 57,898; men on board, 14,442; 
number of seals taken, 428,143. 

In 1857 there were 157,354 barrels of herrings cured, 2940 
tierces of salmon cured, and 913 of fresh salmon disposed of at St. 
John's. 

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 

No better idea can be formed of the increase and progress of 
Newfoundland than by presenting a tabular view of the imports and 
exports for a series of years. The whole of the exports may be said 
to consist of fish : — 





Imports 




Exports. 


1829 . 


. 4,006,650 dollars 


. . 4,697,190 dollars 


1846 . 


. 4,011,435 


3i 


. 3,795,515 „ 


1847 . 


. 4,217,045 


)i 


. 4,032,825 „ 


1848 . 


. 3,848,140 


JJ 


. 4,187,905 „ 


1849 . 


. 3,700,912 


J> 


. . 4.207,521 „ 


1850 . 


. 4,163,116 


J 3 


. 4,683,676 „ 


1851 . 


. 4,609,291 


J> 


. 4,293,876 „ 


1852 . 


. 3,857,468 


J J 


. 4,306,376 „ 


1856 . 


. 6,356,830 


JJ 


. (5,693,985 „ 


1857 . 


. 7,067,160 


>} 


. . 8,255.855 ., 


1858 . 


. 5,864.310 


35 . 


. 6,594,180 „ 


1859 . 


. 6,620,680 


J> 


. . 6,785,565 „ 


1860 . 


. 6.270,640 


!) 


. 6,358,560 „ 



In 260 years there has been shipped from Newfoundland, fish 
and oil to the value of £130,000,000. The revenue of the colony for 
the year 1862, was £116,929, and the expenditure for the same year 
was £138,058. The revenue is derived entirely from customs, there 
being no other tax of any kind. The colonial debt is £173,642. 
The value of the exports from the colony (1862) was £1,171,723, 
and of the imports, £1,007,082. The number of ships owned and 
registered in Newfoundland (1863) was 1386, measuring 87,030 
tons. The number of arrivals was 1345; departures, 1159 ; vessels 
built during the year, 26. Of the imports in 1862, the value of 
£345,797 was from the United States ; and of the exports, £47,729 
was to the United States. There are two banks at St. John's — the 
Union Bank, capital £50,000, and the Commercial Bank, capital 
£50,000. The number of schools in 1857 was 280, attended by 
10,266 pupils. The number of inhabited buildings in 1857 was 
18,364. 



34 



POPULATION DESCRIPTION OF ST. JOHN S. 

The population in 1785 was 10,000 ; in 1845, 96,295 ; in 
1851, 101,600; in 1857, it was 122,638. The increase of popula- 
tion cannot be attributed to immigration, but simply to the natural 
increase of the inhabitants. The soil offers no inducement to the 
settler, and it is only the hardy mariner and fisherman who can 
expect to find a sphere of employment suitable for them. Mr. 
Warburton thus humorously describes St. John's, the capital of 
Newfoundland : — " Round a great part of the harbour are sheds, 
acres in extent, roofed with cod split in half, laid on like slates, dry- 
ing in the sun, or rather in the air, for there is not much of the 
former to depend upon. Those ships, bearing nearly every flag in 
the world, are laden with cod ; those stout, weatherly boats, crowd- 
ing up to the wharves, have just now returned from fishing for cod; 
those few scant fields of cultivation, with lean crops coaxed out of 
the barren soil, are manured with cod ; those trim, snug-looking, 
wooden houses — their handsome furniture — the piano, and the 
musical skill of the young lady who plays it — the satin gown of the 
mother — the gold chain of the father — are all paid for in cod ; the 
breezes from the shore, soft and warm on this bright August day, 
are rich, not with the odours of a thousand flowers, but of a thou- 
sand cod. Earth, sea, and air are alike pervaded with this wonderful 
fish. There is only one place which appears to be kept sacred from 
its intrusion, and, strange to say, that is the dinner-table. An 
observation made on its absence from that apparently appropriate 
position excited as much surprise as if I had made a remark to a 
Northumberland squire that he had not a head dish of Newcastle 
coals." 



PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND. 

Prince Edward's Island is on the southerly side of the St. Law- 
rence. It is 140 miles in length and 34 in breadth. It occupies 
an area of about 2000 square miles. The features of this country 
are softer than those of its neighbours ; there arc no mountains, but 
gentle and fertile undulations, clothed to the water's edge with 
valuable woods and rich verdure. The north shore is very beau- 
tiful—many cheerful villages and green clearings, with small lakes, 
shady arbours, and numerous streams, diversify its scenery. The 
land is admirably adapted for pastoral and agricultural purposes. 
Crops are produced almost immediately after the land is redeemed 
from the forest. The island was at one time crowned with a com- 
plete and continuous canopy of trees, such as the elm, ash, maple, 
spruce, pine, cedar, birch, hemlock, juniper, and beech. The rivers 
abound w T ith an excellent variety of fish, such as the mackerel, 
salmon, trout, eels, flounders, and lobsters ; while the coast is alive 



m 

with cod, oysters, halibut, and sturgeon. Game is also very plen- 
tiful, such as wild duck, pigeons, brandt, and geese. 

INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 

The census of different dates gives the following statistics in 
reference to the industrial resources of the province : — In 1846, 
82 vessels were built, the tonnage of which was 12,012, valued at 
330,000 dollars. In 1847, 96 vessels were built ; tonnage, 18,445 ; 
value, 553,350 dollars. In 1860, 66 vessels were built; value, 
309,225 dollars. In 1861, there were 89 fishing establishments, 
1239 boats, employing 2318 persons. Lieut.-Governor Dundas, in 
his annual report for 1863, says : " There is one great source of 
wealth round the coasts of the island, which is almost neglected by 
the inhabitants; I allude to the fisheries. During the summer 
months hundreds of schooners are attracted to the shores of this 
island from the neighbouring provinces, and from the United States, 
while it is the exception to find a vessel belonging to the island 
engaged in this occupation. 

ee The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. Sudden 
vicissitudes of fortune do not, therefore, frequently occur ; but there 
appears to be a gradual improvement in the culture of the soil, and 
new farmhouses and buildings are invariably of greater pretension 
than those which preceded them — signs, I trust, of increasing 
prosperity." 

The census of 1861 gives the following agricultural returns : — 
Wheat, 346,125 bushels; barley, 223,195 bushels; hay, 31,100 tons; 
potatoes, 2,972,335 bushels ; oats, 2,218,578 bushels ; buckwheat, 
50,127 bushels; turnips, 348,784 bushels; horses, 18,765: neat 
cattle, 60,115 ; sheep, 107,242 ; hogs, 71,535. 

In 1861 there were 350,000 acres under cultivation. The 
population in 1822 was 24,600; in 1833 it was 32,292; in 1841, 
47,034; in 1851, 55,000; and in 1861, 80,856. 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 

The value of the imports in 1847 was 718,270 dollars; the 
exports, 356,130. In 1850 the imports were in value 630,475 
dollars ; of exports during the same period, 325,990 dollars. The 
value of the exports for 1860 was 1,015,970 dollars. The value 
of the imports for the year 1862 was £211,240. 18s. 6d., an increase 
of £1305. 2s. Id. on the value of 1861. The value of exports was 
£150,549. 2s. Id., £12,565. 5s. 9d. less than that of the preceding 
year. The value of 57 vessels of 7715 tons transferred to other 
ports is not taken into consideration. The revenue of the colony 
for the year 1862 was £25,861. 13s. 6d. 

The public debt of the island on the 31st of January, 1861, was 
155,324 dollars. 

d 2 



36 



COUNTIES, TOWNS, AND POPULATION. 

The island is divided into three counties — Queen's County, 
Prince's County, and King's County. The whole population of 
the colony, according to the census of 1861, was 80,857, of whom 
40,880 were males, and 39.997 were females. Divided according 
to their religious faith, there were 44,975 Protestants, and 35,882 
Catholics. The population of Charlottetown was, by the same 
census, 6706. Georgetown, in King's Countv, has a population of 
about 800. 

EDUCATION. 

The Prince of "Wales College, established at Charlotte- 
town in 1860, is the most important educational institution 
of the colony. It is supported from the public revenue. St. 
Dunstan's College is a private establishment near Charlottetown. 
In 1856 a normal school for the training teachers was established. 
The number of schools in the same year was 260, and of pupils 
11,000. In 1861 there were 302 public school-houses, and 280 
teachers ; but we have no returns of the number of scholars for that 
year. The amount of money disbursed from the Colonial Treasury, 
in 1862, for public education was £11,000 sterling, or 55,000 
dollars. In 1863 an Act was passed by the Legislature transferring 
a portion of this expense to the people individually. 



GOVERNMENT (JANUARY, 1864). 

Lieutenant-Governor, Commander-in-Chief, Vice- Admiral, &c, 
his Excellency George Dundas, Esq., appointed January, 1859. 
George Dundas, Esq., formerly an officer of the Rifle Brigade ; 
retired from the army 1844 ; represented Linlithgow in Parliament 
1847—1858. 

Executive Council, or Minis! nj. — Hon. Hamilton Gray, Presi- 
dent ; Hons. Edward Palmer, James Yco, John Longworth, James 
C. Pope, David Kaye, James M'Laren, Daniel Davies, and William 
Henry Pope. Clerk of the Executive Council, Charles Des Brisay, 
Esq. Assistant-Clerk, Donald Currie, Esq. 

Principal Executive Officers, — Colonial Secretary, Hon. Win. 
H. Pope; Colonial Treasurer, George Wright, Esq.; Attorney- 
General, Hon. Edward Palmer; Comptroller of Customs, Hon. 
Erancis Longworth : Commissioner of Crown Lands and 
Surveyor-General, Hon. John Aldous ; Postmaster- General, 
Lemuel C. Owen, Esq. The Lieutenant-Governor is appointed by 
the Crown, and is the royal representative in the colony. The 
Executive Councillors are appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor 
from the majority side of the Colonial Parliament, and they are 
responsible for the Government while in office. 

Colonial Legislature. — The legislative power of the colony is 



or 

exercised (subject to the revision of the Crown) by a Legislature 
composed of a Council and a House of Assembly. Formerly the 
members of the Legislative Council were appointed by the Crown 
for life, but they are now (since Feb., I860) elective. They are 
thirteen in number, chosen by the property-holders of the colony 
for a term of eight years ; six of those now in office to retire at the 
end of four years, so that one-half of the Council may be renewed 
every fourth year. The members of the House of Assembly are 
thirty in number, and are chosen by the qualified electors of the 
colony, by districts, to serve for a term of four years. No property- 
qualification is required to enable persons to vote for members of 
the Assembly. Officers of the Legislative Council — Hon. Donald 
Montgomery ; Clerk, James Barrett Cooper, Esq. Officers of the 
House — Hon. T. Heath Haviland, Speaker ; Chief Clerk, John 
M'Neill, Esq. 

Judiciary : Court of Chancery. — Chancellor, the Lieutenant- 
Governor ; Master of the Rolls, Hon. James H. Peters; Registrar, 
Charles Des Brisay, Esq. 

Supreme Court. — Chief Justice, Hon. Robert Hodgson ; As- 
sistant-Judge, Hon. James H. Peters ; Puisne Judge, John Barrow, 
Esq. ; Clerk and Prothonotary, Daniel Hodgson. 

Besides the foregoing tribunals, there is an Instance Court of 
Admiralty, of which the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is 
Judge ; a Court of Probate of Wills, &c, of which Hon. Charles 
Young is Surrogate ; and a Court of Marriage and Divorce, com- 
posed of the Lieutenant-Governor and Executive Council. The 
terms of the Supreme Court commence on the first Tuesday in 
January and May, and on the last Tuesday in June and October. 

Ecclesiastical. — Church of England : the Lord Bishop of Nova 
Scotia, Rt. Rev. Hibbert Binney, D.D., has jurisdiction of the 
island. Catholic Church : Rt. Rev. Peter M'Intyre, D.D , Bishop 
of Charlottetown. 



NOVA SCOTIA. 



Nova Scotia and the island of Cape Breton form one province. 
Nova Scotia is a peninsula, and has an area of 15,600 square 
miles, being 256 miles in length by 100 miles in breadth. Cape 
Breton is 100 miles in length, and 72 in breadth, and possesses an 
area of 3000 square miles. The two conjoined present a surface of 
18,600 square miles, or 12,000,000 acres. The interior of Nova 
Scotia forms a table-land, some parts of which are rather hilly, and 
abounds in lakes. Cape Breton is generally hilly in the interior. 
The climate resembles that of Lower Canada, the winters being 
severe and the summers hot, but the air is generally healthy. Fogs 
are experienced along the Atlantic coast. The harbours, bays, 
lakes, and rivers are numerous and extensive. 









38 

The harbour of Halifax is pronounced " one of the best in the 
world." It is easy of access for the largest ships, and is capable of 
floating the combined fleets of Europe. It is protected against the 
winds, and after narrowing itself just above the city, it expands 
itself into a lovely basin, called the Bedford Basin, which covers an 
area of nine square miles ; this basin is from four to thirty fathoms 
in depth. We have never sailed round a more beautiful sheet of 
water ; the shores crowned with forest-trees, and interspersed with 
snow-white cottages and flowering orchards, lend a charm to it that 
is not easily to be forgotten. The coast-line of Halifax extends a 
distance of 1000 miles. 

The principal bay is the Bay of Fundy. " This remarkable bay 
is fifty miles in width, and after extending a hundred miles inland 
divides into two branches. The northern branch is called Chieg- 
neeto Bay, the southern branch, the Basin of Minas. The extra- 
ordinary height and rapidity of its tides are famous. At the mouth 
of the Minas Channel the tide rises to about fifty feet, while at the 
mouth of the Shubenacadie, near the head of Cobequid Bay, at the 
spring-tides it obtains the height of seventy-five feet. 

The principal rivers are the Shubenacadie, the Avon, and the 
Annapolis, flowing into the Bay of Fundy ; the St. Mary's, Mus- 
quodoboit, La Have, and Liverpool, flowing into the Atlantic. 



THE SEASONS. 

Spring commences in Nova Scotia with the beginning of 
April. Seed-time and planting continue till the middle of 
June. Summer begins with the latter part of June, and embraces 
July and Angust. Vegetation is very rapid in the middle and 
western parts of the province, where the hay crop and usually 
all the grain crops, are harvested by the last week of August or first 
week in September. 

Autumn is the finest season in Nova Scotia. It is mild, serene, 
and cool enough to be bracing, and the atmosphere is of a purity 
that renders it peculiarly exhilarating and health-giving. The 
" Indian summer " occurs sometimes as late as the middle of 
November, and lasts from three to ten days. 

The Avinter in Nova Scotia may be said to comprise about 
four months. It begins, some seasons, with the 1st of December 
and runs into the month of April. Other seasons it begins in the 
middle of December and ends with the last of March. 



BOTANICAL I'KOJHJCTIO.NS. 



Nova Scotia is remarkably rich in her botanical productions, 
the principal of which are the white and red pine, the hemlock, the 
black, red, and white spruce, the fir, and the juniper ; these are the 
soft wood. The hard woods are the white soft maple, the white 



39 

sugar maple, the black sugar maple, the red maple, the striped 
maple, the mountain maple, the white ash, the black ash, the white 
beech, the red beech, the white oak, the black oak, the yellow, the 
white, the canoe, and the poplar-leaved birch, and the hazel. The 
principal ornamental trees are the sumach, the wild pear, the moun- 
tain ash, the wild hawthorn, the wild red cherry, the willow, the 
aspen, the poplar, the white -leaved poplar, the acacia, the black 
cherry-tree, and the sarsaparilla. The wild plants arc numerous, 
and some of exquisite beauty; the Mayflower, the white pond 
lily, the wild rose, the Indian cup, Solomon's seal, the tree cran- 
berry, the pigeon berry, the Indian hemp, the wild pea, the star 
flower, and the violet. The fruit-bearing trees are the raspberry, 
blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, whortleberry, cranberry, and 
gooseberry. The various products of the forests gave employment 
in 1862 to 1401 saw-mills, 130 shingle -mills, and 6 lath-mills, 
which turned out 25,072 M. feet deals, 46,607 M. feet pine boards, 
36,422 M. feet spruce and hemlock boards. The return of staves 
for the same year year is 7659 M. timber, 22,592 tons. 

SHIPPING. 

The number and amount of shipping built between 1853 and 
1861 is shown in the followinGf- table of statistics : — 



Year. 


No. of Vessels. 


Totinage. 


Value. 


1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 


. . 203 . 

. . 244 . 

. 236 . 

. . 208 . 


. 31,376 . 

. 52,814 . 
. 40,469 . 

. 39,582 . 


. 1,557,090 dols. 
. 2,546,595 „ 
. 2,240,710 „ 
. 1,852,540 „ 


1858 
1859 


. 151 . 


. 16,SS6 . 


757,900 „ 


1860 . 
1861 


. 233 . 

. 216 . 


. 20,684 . 
23,634 . 


852,831 „ 
972,448 „ 



In 1846, Nova Scotia owned 141,093 tons of shipping ; in 1853, 
189,093 tons; in 1861, 248,061 tons. The number of vessels is 
3258 ; value, 6,487,490 dollars. In 1862 the number of registered 
vessels was 3408, measuring 277,718 tons ; the number built was 
201, measuring 39,383 tons. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The agricultural progress of Nova Scotia is most satisfactory. 
By the census of 1861 it appears there are 37,897 farmers and 
9306 farm labourers. The number of acres under cultivation at 
three successive periods was as follows : — In 1827, 292,009 acres; 
in 1851, 839,322 acres; in 1861, 1,028,032 acres. Divided into 
salt marsh, 20,729 acres; dyked marsh, 35,487 acres; cultivated 



40 

intervale, 77,102 acres; and cultivated upland, 894,714 acres; the 
total value of which is estimated at 18,801,365 dollars. The average 
value per acre is — Dyked marsh, 62*06 dollars ; salt marsh, 2604 
dollars ; cultivated intervale, 27*45 dollars ; and cultivated upland, 
15*58 dollars. In some counties the cultivated upland sells for 
50, 60, and 80 dollars ; dyked marsh land brings 80 dollars, and 
some as high as 300 dollars, or £60 sterling. 

The agricultural produce of 1851 shows — Wheat, 297,157 
bushels; barley, 196,097 bushels; rye, 61,438; oats, 1,384,437 
bushels ; buckwheat, 170,301 bushels ; Indian corn, 37,475 bushels ; 
potatoes, 1,986,789 bushels ; turnips, 467,127 bushels ; hay, 287,837 
tons ; butter, 3,613,890 lbs. ; cheese, 652,069 lbs. ; horses, 28,786; 
sheep, 282,180 ; swine, 51,533 : neat cattle, exclusive of cows, 
156,857 ; milch cows, 86,856. 

The census of 1861 gives the following as the products of agri- 
culture and the number of live stock : — Wheat, 312,081 bushels ; 
barley, 269,578 bushels; rye, 59,706 bushels; oats, 1,978,137 
bushels ; buckwheat, 195,340 bushels ; Indian corn, 15,529 bushels ; 
peas and beans, 21,333 bushels; potatoes, 3,824,864 bushels; tur- 
nips, 554,318 bushels ; other roots, 87,727 bushels ; apples, 186,484 
bushels ; plums, 4385 bushels ; hay, 354,287 tons ; maple sugar, 
249,549 lbs.; butter, 4,532,711 lbs. ; cheese, 901,296 lbs. ; horses, 
41,927; sheep, 332,653 ; swine, 53,217; neat cattle, exclusive of 
cows, 151,793 ; milch cows, 110,504. 

The value of the agricultural products for the year 1861 is 
estimated at 8,021,860 dollars. The value of the live stock at 
6,802,399 dollars. 

THE FISHERIES. 

The Fisheries are very productive and exhibit the following 
results : — 

1851. 1861. 

Vessels 812 . . 900 

Boats 5,161 . . 8,816 

Men employed 10,394 . . 14,322 

Quintals of dry fish . . .196,434 . .396,425 

Barrels of mackerel . . . 100,047 . . 66,108 

Barrels of shad 3,536 . . 7,849 

Barrels of alcwivts . . . . 5,343 . . 12,565 

Barrels of salmon .... 1,669 . . 2,481 

Barrels of herrings 2,738 

Boxes of herrings, smoked . 53,200 . .194,170 

Barrels of smoked salmon . 15,409 . . 35,557 

The value of the vessels, boats, and nets, is estimated at 
1,780,450 dollars. The value of the fish and oil in 1861 was 
2,376,721 dollars. 

In 1860 the total value of fish exported was 3,094,499 dollars; 



41 

in 1854 it was 2,093,415 dollars. The total value of live stock and 
agricultural products exported in 1860 was 786,526 dollars ; lumber, 
767,136 dollars ; products of mines and quarries, 658,257 dollars; 
furs, 72,218 dollars; manufactures, 69,978 dollars; vessels, 168,270 
dollars; miscellaneous, 151,132 dollars; imported from other coun- 
tries and re-exported, 1,019,788 dollars ; making the total exports 
for 1860, 6,787,804 dollars. 



COMMERCE. 

The value of imports into Halifax from the United States 
in 1861 was 1,736,879 dollars; from Great Britain to the 
same port, 2,222,266 dollars ; from British North American Pro- 
vinces, 760,800 dollars ; the West Indies, 107,443 dollars ; from all 
other countries, 678,571 dollars. The value of the imports and 
exports from 1852 to 1861 is shown in the following table : — 





Imports. 




Exports. 


1852 . 


. 5,970,877 dollars. 


. 4,853,903 dollars 


1853 . 


. 7,085,43! 


>} 


. . 5,393,538 „ 


1854 . 


. 8,955,410 


)> 


. . 3,096,525 ., 


1855 . 


. 9,413,515 


?? 


. . 4,820,654 „ 


1856 . 


. 9,349,160 


J5 


. . 6,864,790 „ 


1857 . 


. 9,680,880 


>} 


. . 6,967,830 „ 


1858 . 


. 8,075,590 


JJ 


. . 6,321,490 „ 


1859 . 


. 8,100,955 


)1 


. . 6,889,130 „ 


1860 . 


. 8,511,549 


>} 


. . 6,619,534 „ 


1861 . 


. 7,613,227 


)) 


. . 5,774,334 ., 


1862 . 


. 8,445,042 


}i 


. . 5,646,961 „ 



The number of vessels which entered in 1861 from Great 
Britain was 194, the tonnage 97,538, manned by 5111 men; from 
British West Indies, 259 vessels, 31,436 tons, and 1916 men ; from 
British North America, 2681 vessels, 227,596 tons, and 14,451 men ; 
from the United States, 2851 vessels, of 303,638 tons burthen, and 
18,225 men ; other countries, 338 vessels, 36,555 tons, and 2101 
men. Total, 6323 vessels, 696,763 tons, and 41,804 men. 



POPULATION. 

The following table will show the increase of the population 
during the last ten years in the different counties : — 

Population t«a— o„ Ra te P er Cent. 

1851. • 1861. ^crease. ofI !; crease . 

Halifax (city) 19,949 25,026 5,077 25-44 

„ (outside city) 19,163 23,995 4,832 2521 

Total in county 39,112 49,021 9,909 25*33 



42 





Population 


Increase. 


Rate per Cent 




1851. 


1861. 




of Increase. 


Brought forward 


39,112 


49,021 


9,909 


25-33 


Colchester 


15,469 


20,045 


4,576 


2958 


Cumberland 


14,339 


19,533 


5,194 


36-22 


Pic tou 


25,593 


28,785 


3,192 


12-47 


Sydney 


13,467 


14,871 


1,404 


10-42 


Guysborough 


10,838 


12,713 


1,875 


17-30 


Inverness 


16,917 


19,967 


3,050 


18-02 


Richmond 


10,381 


12,607 


2 2£fi 


21-44 


Victoria ) 
Cape Breton (co.) j 


27,580 


( 9,643) 
(20,866) 


2,992 


10-02 


Hants 


14,330 


17,460 


3,130 


21-14 


King's 


14,138 


18,731 


4,593 


32-48 


Annapolis 


14,286 


16,593 


2,467 


17-26 


Digby 


12,252 


14,751 


2,499 


2039 


Yarmouth 


13,142 


15,446 


2,304 


17-53 


Shelburne 


10,622 


10,688 


46 


•43 


Queen's 


7,256 


9,365 


2,109 


2906 


Lunenburg 


16,395 
276,117 


19,632 
330,857 


3,237 


19-74 


Totals 


54,740 


19-82 



QUADRUPEDS, ETC. 

The quadrupeds, birds, and fish of Nova Scotia are numerous 
in variety and of great value. Of quadrupeds there are the moose, 
cariboo, bear, fox, lynx, weasel, martin, otter, minx, squirrel, 
fisher, woodchuck, hare, racoon, porcupine, beaver, musquash, rat, 
and mouse. The birds comprise the bald-eagle, the fish-hawk, 
the hen-hawk, the sparrow-hawk, the white owl, great-eared 
owl, speckled owl, horned owl, and barn owl, besides warblers, 
thrushes, fiy-catchers, chatterers, pinches, crossbills, crows, creepers, 
humming-birds, kingfishers, swallows, night-hawks, grouse, 
pigeons, herons, snipe, plovers, ducks, and geese. The fish are to 
be found in every bay, lake, and river in marvellous quantities, and 
are of the choicest kind — such as mackerel, herring, cod, haddock, 
halibut, alewives or gaspercau, pollock, salmon, shad, trout, and 
perch, besides the lobster, mussel, sea-clam, cockle, blue crab, 
nipple-fish, oyster, periwinkle, quatrog, scallop, razor-fish, shore- 
clam, sea-spider, soldier- crab, sea-crab, and star-fish. 



CROWN LANDS. 

The quantity of granted and ungranted lands in the pro- 
vince is as follows : — In Nova Scotia — quantity already granted, 
4,935,349^ acres; remaining ungranted, 4,112,384^ acres; esti- 
mated as available for settlement, 556,664^ acres ; lands open for 
settlements, 3,412,384^ acres. Cape Breton— granted, 813,543f , 



43 

ungranted, 1,207,4384 ; available for settlement, 356,676£ ; open 
for settlement, 777,4381 Total— 5,748,893 granted; 5,319,822} 
ungranted; 913,340^ available; 4,189,8221 open for settlement. 

The gross proceeds of lands sold in 1860 was 20,846 dollars 28 
cents ; in 1861, 16,598 dollars 73 cents. 

The revenue for 1860 was 870,055 dollars; the expenditure, 
852,133 dollars. The expenditure for 1861 was 870,771 dollars. 

In 1860 the debt of the province was 4,901,305 dollars 42 
cents — viz., provincial bonds, 4,000,000 dollars ; provincial notes, 
447,458 dollars ; Savings' Bank, 453,847 dollars 42 cents. Total, 
4,901,305 dollars 42 cents. 

EDUCATION. 

There are six colleges in Nova Scotia — viz., King's College, 
at Windsor, commenced in 1788 ; Acadia College, in Wolfville 
County, Baptist denomination ; Goreham College, in Liverpool, 
Queen's County; St. Mary's College, in Halifax; St. Francis Xavier's 
College, in the town of Atigonish; and Dalhousie College, in 
Halifax. Six academies : the Windsor Academy, the Horton Aca- 
demy, the Sackville Academy, the Presbyterian Academy, and the 
Arichat Academy. There are 44 academies and 1227 school- 
houses ; 128,222 dollars 22 cents were subscribed by the popula- 
tion, and 53,519 dollars 25 cents contributed by the Government, 
for the common schools ; and 9814 dollars 9 cents by the people, 
and 3274 dollars 95 cents by Government, for the grammar-schools. 

GOVERNMENT. 

The Government consists of a Lieutenant-Governor ; the Legis- 
lative Council, consisting of 22 Members, who hold their position 
for life and are chosen by the Crown ; the House of Representa- 
tives, consisting of 55 Members, chosen every four years. Every 
male inhabitant who is either native or a naturalized subject of 
Great Britain, and is twenty-one years of age, is entitled to a vote. 

The principal towns and villages are Annapolis, Royal, Yar- 
mouth, Pictou, New Glasgow, Sydney, and Arichat, in Cape Breton ; 
Windsor, in Hants ; Dartmouth, opposite Halifax ; Baddeek, in 
Victoria ; Port Hood and Maybon, Truro ; Liverpool, Bridgetown, 
and Digby. 

HALIFAX. 

Halifax is the principal city. This city occupies a most com- 
manding position, and extends in length over three miles; it is 
situated on the slope of a hill, and in its rear, far above and over- 
looking it, rises a bold and frowning fortress, which, in conjunction 
with other fortifications situated at appropriate points, gives it at 
once military strength and an imposing aspect. 



44 

Halifax is the great British North American seaport, and its 
future prosperity looks promising indeed ; for when the great inter- 
colonial railroad shall have been completed, much of the grain of 
the West will find its exit through this channel. Steamers and 
ships will also pour into this port thousands of emigrants, who can 
find a direct road to the Far West ; while the gold-fields promise 
to prove a source of wealth and temptation that will soon rapidly 
increase the population of the surrounding country. 

GOLD-FIELUS. 

That the gold is not a myth we can assert from ocular testimony, 
having visited the mines within a few months ; and certainly the 
various specimens shown to us prove that the quartz is extremely 
rich in metal. Some of the specimens quarried while we were 
present were equal to any we had ever seen, and the opinion of the 
miners was that, when the proper machinery and organized labour 
were brought to bear, the product will be such as to astonish those 
who have not at present a full belief in the material existence of 
this precious metal. The ascertained extent of the gold-field com- 
prises an area of 6000 or 7000 square miles, being the entire region 
occupied by the metamorphic lower Silurian rocks of the Atlantic 
coast. So rich are the quartz veins at " The Ovens," 70 miles west 
from Halifax, that 1} ton of quartz has produced 72 oz. of gold, 
valued at 1296 dollars. One nugget has been discovered valued 
at 300 dollars, or £60 sterling. At Tangier, 2400 dollars has been 
realized in a short time ; at another, 1300 dollars. The daily 
yield of gold is about 100 ounces, valued at 18 dollars per ounce. 
The Provincial Government have surveyed and divided the prin- 
cipal gold-fields into claims of twenty feet by fifty feet, and exact an 
annual licence-fee, or rent, of 20 dollars for each claim. " In one 
important respect," says Dr. Gesner, " the Nova Scotian gold-fields 
possess a very great advantage over those of Australia, California, 
or British Columbia — namely, that the rocks containing the gold in 
the greatest abundance are near the Atlantic coast, and intersect a 
number of the smaller rivers and harbours, whereby facilities are 
afforded to supply the requirements of mining. It is not at all pro- 
bable that the richest gold and deposits in Nova Scotia have yet 
been discovered ; but there is enough known to satisfy the most 
sceptical that the province contains an ample amount of the precious 
metal to warrant the most extensive operations, and the employ- 
ment of machinery for its mining and purification." 

MINERALS. 

Coal, — Dr. Dawson, in his work styled " Acadian Geology," 
describes the coal-fields of Nova Scotia as vast in extent, and very 
valuable. The principal mines are the Albion mines, at Fictou. 



45 

These mines gave employment to over 2000 persons in 1851, and 
60,000 chaldrons were raised. The quantity of coal raised, sold, 
and exported at Pictou in 1861 was 104,952 tons. The coal-mines 
of Sydney, at Cape Breton, produce annually about 80,000 tons. 
There are numerous other mines in Nova Scotia and New Breton, 
which are capable of supplying the wants of the steam marine to 
any extent. The total quantity of coal raised in Nova Scotia in 
1861 was 200,000 chaldrons. 

Iron. — Dr. J. L. Hayes, of Massachusetts, U.S., speaks of iron 
veins in high terms. He says there are immense fields of iron ore, 
and that iron ore can be raised for 4 dollars per ton. " I have no 
doubt that iron of the first quality for purity and strength, and 
which will command the highest prices in the market, can be made 
from these ores. If Mr. Mushet's opinion, based on his own experi- 
ments — that these ores will furnish steel-iron equal to the best 
Swedish brands — should prove correct, they possess a rare value ; 
for, of the many charcoal iron establishments in the United States, I 
know but one which furnishes iron suitable for making the first 
quality of steel." 

Gypsum. — The common gypsum is found in abundance, and is 
quarried at Windsor, Newport, Walton, and other places. In 1861 
there was shipped to the United States 150,000 tons for agricultural 
purposes, which averaged 2 dollars a ton. Surely, when we review 
the natural resources and productiveness of Nova Scotia, she presents 
a picture of present prosperity which her inhabitants may well be 
proud of; and, with the increased means of development which the 
union of the provinces promises, she may look forward to a continued 
and steady increase of her agricultural, manufacturing, and mer- 
cantile wealth. 



46 



CHAP TEE VI. 

DESCRIPTION OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 

New Brunswick — Rivers and Counties — Capabilities of the Province — Forests — 
Fisheries — Minerals — Fruit and Vegetables — Manufactures — Counties — Com- 
merce—Finances — Government — Public Schools — Militia — Census of 1861 — 
Agriculture. 

NEW BRUNSWICK. 

New Brunswick lies to the eastward of Canada, and upon the 
eastward boundary of the State of Maine, U. S. On the east and 
south it borders the St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy ; on the 
west the small river of St. Croix and the meridian of 67° 53' divide 
it from the territory of the United States ; on the north it is termi- 
nated by the river Restigouche, which falls into the Bay of Chaleurs 
on the western side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The landscape is 
of great variety and of most picturesque beauty, being alternations 
of attractive valleys and hills, which northward assume a bold out- 
line. It is 230 miles in length and 130 in breadth, and is covered with 
a mantle of magnificent forests that arc unrivalled, and constitute a 
source of industry and wealth which is well nigh inexhaustible. It 
comprises an area of 27,037 square miles, or about 17,677,360 acres 
of land, the whole of which abounds in lakes and rivers. Its 
astronomical position is between latitude 45° 05' and 48° 04' north, 
and between longitudes 63° 47' and 67° 53' west from Greenwich. 
Seat of Government, Frederictown. The surface of New Bruns- 
wick is varied along the shores ; it is generally flat, but a little inland 
it rises into hills, some of which are sharp and bold, and serve to 
protect the interior table-lands and declivities. The quantity of 
good land sold up to 1861, was 6,000,000 acres, leaving 11,000,000 
unsold, 7,500,000 of which are admirable lands for cultivation and 
farming purposes. 

RIVERS AND COUNTIES. 

The longest river of New Brunswick is the St. John's ; this 
remarkable and beautiful river rises in the high lands which sepa- 
rate Maine from Canada, and empties into the Bay of Fundy, at St. 
John's Harbour, after traversing a distance of over 600 miles. The 
river and its affluents afford navigation for over 1300 miles ; it is 
navigable for sloops up to Frederictown, a distance of SO miles, and 
for flat-bottomed boats up to the Great Falls, a distance of 200 
miles from its mouth. The shores of the St. John are mostly 
covered with primeval forests. In some parts, the banks rise in 



47 

grand rocky hills, forming in their lines and interlacings pictures of 
wondrous delight. 

The chief tributaries of the St. John, besides the St. Francis 
and other waters already mentioned, are Aroostook, the Oromocto, 
and the Eel, on the west ; and the Salmon, the Naskwaak, the 
Tobique, the Kennebecasis, and the Washedemoak, on the east. 

The St. John affords most valuable fishing, the salmon being 
as delicious and delicate as the Severn salmon of England. As 
many as 40,000 salmon, 16,000 barrels of alewives (a species of 
shad), and 1000 barrels of shad are caught annually, giving employ- 
ment to 200 boats and 500 men, and producing 100,000 dollars, or 
£20,000 sterling, annually. The other rivers are the St. Croix, 
which falls into the Passamaquoddy Bay ; the Miramichi, which 
flows eastward into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, having a course of 
120 miles, and being navigable for nearly 40 miles ; and the Resti- 
gouche, which falls into the Bay of Chaleurs, has a length of about 
85 miles. 

The climate is healthful, but subject to great extremes of heat 
and cold ; the mercury rising sometimes to 100 in the day-time, and 
falling to 50 at night. The country is covered with snow for four 
months in the year. 

New Brunswick is divided into ten counties. Frederictown, the 
political capital of the province, is situated on the south bank of the 
St. John's River. The other principal towns are — St. Andrew's, 
situated on the shore of the Passamaquoddy Bay ; Liverpool, upon 
the coast of the Gulf of the St. LaAvrence ; Newcastle, at the mouth 
of Miramichi River ; and Bathurst, on the south side of the fine 
Bay of Chaleurs. 



CAPABILITIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 

Professor J. F. "W. Johnstone, F.R.S., in a report made to the 
Government, speaking of its agricultural capabilities, says, " The 
stranger, if he penetrates beyond the Atlantic shores of the pro- 
vince, and travels through the interior, will be struck by the number 
and beauty of its rivers, by the fertility of its river islands and inter- 
vales, and by the great extent and excellent condition of its roads, 
and, upon the whole, of its numerous bridges. He will see bound- 
less forests still unreclaimed, but will remark at the same time an 
amount of actual progress and prosperous advancement, which, con- 
sidering the recent settlement and small revenue of the province, is 
really surprising." 

Major Robinson, R.E., in his report, thus describes the pro- 
vince : — " Of the climate, soil, and capabilities of New Brunswick 
it is impossible to speak too highly. There is not a country in the 
world so beautifully wooded and watered. An inspection of the 
map will show that there is scarcely a section of it without its 
streams, from the running brook up to the navigable river. Two- 



48 

thirds of its boundary are washed by the sea ; the remainder is em- 
braced by the large rivers — the St. John and the Restigouche. 
For beauty and richness of scenery, this latter river and its branches 
are not surpassed by anything in Great Britain. The lakes of New 
Brunswick are numerous and most beautiful. Its surface is un- 
dulating, hill and dale, varying up to mountain and valley. It is 
everywhere, except a few peaks of the highest mountains, covered 
with a dense forest of the finest growth. The country can every- 
where be penetrated by its streams. In some parts of the interior, 
by a portage of three or four miles, a canoe can float away either to 
the Bay of Chaleurs and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or down to St. 
John's in the Bay of Fundy. 

THE FORESTS. 

As we have before stated, New Brunswick is unusually 
rich in the amount and variety of her forest-trees, the principal 
of which are the white pine, the black spruce, the American 
larch, the black and yellow birch, the white and red beech, the 
white and red elm, the hemlock spruce, the butternut, the Avhite and 
black ash, the white cedar, the white maple, and red flowering maple, 
the white and canoe birch, the balsam poplar, the American aspen, 
the alder, the willow, the wild cherry, the basswood, the hornbeam, 
the ironwood, the white spruce, the American silver fir, and last, 
but most useful of all, the maple sugar-tree. This tree is not only 
useful for its wood, but furnishes a syrup superior to treacle and 
molasses, and a sugar which is not only consumed at home, but 
proves a profitable article of commerce ; besides this, it furnishes 
the best fuel, the best charcoal, and its ashes are rich in alkaline 
matter. The maple sugar is not only admirably adapted for tea and 
coffee, but it is delicious as a candy. All that is required to obtain 
it at the proper season — usually about the 1st of March — is to bore 
small holes in the trunks of the trees, and the sap is caught in 
boilers. This is boiled to the consistency of a syrup, kept skimmed 
to remove impurities, and then poured into moulds. Each tree 
ordinarily yields about 20 gallons of sap, which will make five or 
six pounds of sugar. The quantity of sugar obtained in 1861 in 
New Brunswick was 500,000 lbs. 

The amount of timber exported from New Brunswick in 1854 
was 127,507 tons; deals (M. feet), 258,004; boards and planks 
(M. feet), 19,256; masts and spars (No.), 3794 ; ship knees (No.), 
15,248; lathwood (cords), 2223; sawed laths (M.), 19,672 ; shingles 
(M.) 24,837 ; box-shooks (No.), 142,672; besides wood in many 
other shapes. 

In 1850 there were 86 vessels built, the total tonnage of which 
was S0;Soi), and the value £242,852 sterling. In 1860 there were 
100 vessels, 41,003 tons, value £328,024 sterling. ' 

In I860 St. John's owned 492 vessels, 123,425 tons, value 



49 

£987,400; Miramichi, 132 vessels, 14,910 tons, value £119,380; 
St. Andrew's, 201 vessels, 8748 tons, value £69,984. Total in 1860 
owned in New Brunswick, 825 vessels, 147,083 tons, value 
£1,176,664 sterling; in 1861, 813 vessels, 158,240 tons; in 1862, 
814 vessels, with a tonnage of 157,718. 

The produce of the forest in 1860 was 3,180,428 dollars ; in 
1861, 3,447,910 dollars; in 1862, 2,810,188 dollars. 

THE FISHERIES. 

In the Bay of Fundy there is the cod, pollock, hake, haddock, 
herring, mackerel, halibut, and sea-shad, besides numerous tribes 
of small fish. The Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Bay of Chaleurs, and 
the mouth of the Miramichi River, swarm with cod, hake, mackerel, 
salmon, and striped bass, besides oysters, lobsters, clams, crabs, 
shrimps, and mussels. 

In the rivers the fisherman will find fresh-water trout in abun- 
dance, with striped bass, white and yellow perch, roach, dace, 
carp, and white fish. 

MINERALS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, MANUFACTURES. 

Minerals. — Among the most valuable productions are its mine- 
rals which may be thus enumerated — bituminous coal, iron ore, 
manganese, plumbago, lead, copper, granite, gypsum, limestone, 
marble, red sandstone, grindstone, oilstone, iceland-spar, roofing- 
slate, sulphuret of iron, bituminous shale (from which herosine or 
paraffine is produced), plastic clay for bricks or pottery, peat, 
barytes, felspar, quartz, chlorite, jasper, soap-stone, and salt and 
sulphurous springs. 

Fruit and Vegetables. — New Brunswick produces apples, pears, 
plums, currants, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, black- 
berries, great whortleberries, cherries, besides butter-nuts, hazel- 
nuts, and beech-nuts. The principal vegetables are potatoes, peas, 
and beans, turnips, beets, carrots, parsnips, cabbages, cauliflowers, 
celery, cucumbers, and squashes. 

Manufactures. — In 1861 the value of manufactures was as fol- 
lows : — Boots and shoes, £89,377; leather, £45,162; candles, 
£19,860 ; wooden ware (not cabinet-work), £20,505 ; chairs and 
cabinet-ware, £13,472; soap, £18,562; hats, £6360; iron castings, 
£20,205. 

COUNTIES. 

The various counties are Eestigouche County, Gloucester 
County, Northumberland County, Kent County, Westmoreland 
County, Albert County, St. John County, Charlotte County, 
King's County, Queen's County, Sunbury County, York County, 
Carleton County, Victoria County. 



50 

Kestigouche County contains 1,426,560 acres, of which 156,379 
acres are granted and 1,269,581 acres are vacant; 8895 acres only- 
are cleared. The soil is fertile, and produces fine crops. 

Gloucester County contains 1,087,440 acres — 332,902 acres 
have been granted, and 704,588 acres are yet vacant. The cleared 
land is 19,812 acres. In 1851. 14,302 grindstones were made and 
21,157 lbs. of maple sugar. 

Northumberland County contains 2,980,000 acres, of which 
986,168 acres were granted and 1,993,832 are still vacant. The 
cleared land amounts to 30,221 acres. 

Kent County contains 1,026,000 acres— 386,398 granted, 
640,002 vacant, 35,496 cleared. 

Westmoe eland County contains 878,440 acres — 577,440 
granted, 301,000 vacant, 92,822 cleared. 

Albert County contains 433,560 acres — 233,700 granted, 
199,860 vacant, 32,210 cleared. 

Albert County. — This county contains 414,720 acres — 
309,147 granted, and 105,573 vacant. The population in 1861, 
with Portland, was close upon 50,000 souls. It occupies a com- 
manding position, and contains 4500 inhabited houses and 4300 
stores, barns, and outbuildings. It possesses numerous saw-mills, 
grist-mills, tanneries, foundries, breweries, factories, and ship-yards. 
There are three banks — the Bank of New Brunswick, the Com- 
mercial Bank of New Brunswick, and a branch of the Bank of 
British North America. The commerce is large and increasing — 
about 2000 vessels entering and departing each year. 

Charlotte County contains 783,360 acres — 817,245 granted, 
466,115 vacant, 45,656 cleared. 

King's County contains 849,920 acres— 662,752 granted, 
187,168 vacant, 120,923 cleared. 

Queen's County contains 961,280 acres — 514,204 granted, 
444,076 vacant, 63,719 cleared. 

Sunbury County contains 782,002 acres — 377,078 granted, 
405,002 vacant, 15,5*7 cleared. 

York County contains 2,201,600 acres — 970,914 granted, 
1,230,686 vacant, 69,017 cleared. 

Carleton County contains 700,000 acres — 465,802 granted, 
234,198 vacant, and 55,537 cleared. 

Victoria County contains 2,872,000 acres — 345,600 granted, 
2,526,400 vacant, 26,834 cleared. 

commerce. 

In 1860 the imports from the United States were £688,217, 
the total imports were £1,446,740; the exports to the United 
States were £248,378, the total exports, £916,372. In 1861 
the imports from the United States were £628,070, the 
total imports were £1,238,133 ; the exports to the United 



51 

States were £175,654, the total exports were £947,091. In 1862, 
the imports to the United States were £616,814, the total imports 
were £1,291,604 ; the exports to the United States were £185,295, 
the total exports £808,445. The value of exports and imports in 
1862 was— exports, 8,856,528 dollars ; imports, 6,199,701 dollars. 
Of the imports, 2,960,703 dollars were from the United States, and 
of the exports, 889,41(5 dollars were to the United States. 

The produce of mines and minerals for 1860, was 395,540 
dollars ; in 1861, 332,970 dollars ; in 1862, 303,477 dollars. The 
produce of fisheries was, in I860, 374,408 dollars • in 1861, 269,249 
dollars ; in 1862, 303,477 dollars. 

FINANCES (1862). 

The receipts for the year were 668,197 dollars, and the 
expenditure was 675,189 dollars ; or, in sterling, the revenue 
was, 1862, £148,960. In 1863 the revenue was £176,000. 
The expenditure in 1862 was £166,766 sterling; that of 1863 con- 
siderably within the income. 

Principal Sources of Revenue. — Railway impost, 93,000 
dollars; import duties, 515,000 dollars; export duties, 55.000 
dollars ; casual revenue, &c, 20,000 dollars ; court fees, 4300 
dollars ; proceeds of seizures, 1000 dollars ; auction duty, 200 
dollars. 

Principal Items of Expenditure. — Civil list, 58,000 dollars ; 
legislature, 47,343 dollars ; judiciary, 12,130 dollars ; collection of 
revenue, 40,346 dollars ; post-office, 26,400 dollars; public works, 
124,290 dollars; education, 116,275 dollars; interest on railway 
debt, 146,170 dollars ; interest on debentures, &c, 45,364 dollars ; 
lunatic asylum, 16,000 dollars ; agriculture, 9734 dollars ; peni- 
tentiary, 7200 dollars. 

Public Debt. — The public debt of the province appears to be 
divisible into three classes, as follows : — Funded debt, 398,733 
dollars ; floating debt, 649,553 dollars — total of debt proper, 
1,048,286 dollars. Railway debt, 4,739,880 dollars. Aggregate, 
5,788,166 dollars. The railway obligations were incurred on 
account of aid extended to the European and North American 
Railway and the St. Andrew's and Quebec Railway. 

GOVERNMENT (JANUARY, 1864). 

Lieut. -Governor Commander-in-Chief, &c, since Oct. 26, 1861, 
His Excellency the Honourable Arthur Hamilton Gordon, CM. G. 

Executive Council, or Ministry. — IJrovincial Secretary, Hon. S. 
L. Tilley— salary, 2400 dollars ; Attorney-General, Hon. J. M. 
Johnson, jun. — salary, 2400 dollars ; Surveyor-General, Hon. J. 
M'Millan — salary, 2400 dollars; Postmaster-General, Hon. J, 
Steadman — salary, 2400 dollars ; Chief Commander of Board of 

e 2 



52 

Works, Hon. G. L. Hathway — salary, 2400 dollars ; Solicitor- 
General, Hon. C. Watters — salary, 1000 dollars. Without office : 
Hon. E. Perley, Hon. W. H. Steeves, Hon. P. Mitchell. 

Other Executive Officers. — Provincial Treasurer, B. Eobinson, 
Esq. ; Auditor-General, J. B. Partelow, Esq. ; Comptroller of 
Customs, &c, Wm. Smith, Esq. ; Emigration Agent, R. Shives. 

The Lieutenant-Governor is appointed by the Crown, and is the 
representative of royalty in the province. He selects the Executive 
Council from the majority side of the Provincial Legislature, and 
they are responsible for the government. Of the members of the 
Ministry above named, all are from the House of Assembly except- 
ing Messrs. Steeves and Mitchell, "who are from the Legislative 
Council. 

Provincial Legislature. — This body consists of a Legislative 
Council of 21 Members, appointed for life by the Crown (with the 
concurrence of the Executive Council), and a House of Assembly 
of 41 Members, chosen by the qualified electors of the province for 
a term of four years. The qualification for membership of the 
Assembly is the ownership of a freehold of the clear value of £300 
■ — about 1500 dollars. All elections are by ballot; and every male 
British subject is a voter who is not legally incapacitated, and who 
is assessed on the registry for real estate to the value of £25, or 
personal estate to the value of £100, or having an annual income 
of £100. 

Judiciary : Supreme Court. — Chief Justice, Sir James Carter, 
Kt. ; Master of the Rolls, Hon. Neville Parker ; Judges, Hon. R. 
Parker, Hon. S. Ritchie, Hon. L. A. Wilmot. 

rUBLTC SCHOOLS, MILITIA OF THE PROVINCE, CENSUS OF 1861, 
AGRICULTURE IN 1800. 

Public Schools. — From the report of John Bennett, Esq., Chief 
Superintendent of Schools, we compile the following statistics, 
exhibiting the condition of the public schools of the province for 
the year 1802: — Whole number of children between the ages of 
six and sixteen, 64,000; attendance during the year, 29,500; 
number of teachers, 810. Provincial expenditure on account of 
schools, 94,437 dollars ; amount of local contributions, 106,524 
dollars — total expenditure for schools, 200,961 dollars. Expended 
for superior schools, 5288 dollars ; superior schools in operation, 
2o ; number of pupils in superior schools, 1164; average annual 
salary of teachers in superior schools, 566 dollars. Number of 
school-houses built, 1862, 68. In the superior schools Greek was 
taught in 2, Latin in 15, French in 9, and the mathematics in all. 
Besides the foregoing, there is a training-school for educating 
teachers, into which 167 applicants were admitted after passing an 
examination, at which 27 applicants were rejected. There are 
also 12 grammar schools, in which there were, in 1862, 397 pupils. 



53 

Latin and the mathematics were taught in all these schools, Greek 
in 7, and French in 8. 

Militia of the Province. — The return of the enrolled militia for 
1862 is as follows : — Volunteers, 1738 ; 1st class— single men, and 
widowers without children, 18,859; 2nd class — married men, and 
widowers with children, 6131 ; sedentary militia (over 45), 3714. 
Total, 30,442. 

Census of 1861. — Inhabitants: males, 129,948; females, 
122,099— total, 252,047. Native born, 199,445; foreign born, 
52,602. Indians, 1112; coloured, 1591. Religions: Catholics, 
85,238 ; Baptists, 57,730 ; Episcopalians, 42,776 ; Presbyterians, 
36,072; Methodists, 25,637 ; Congregationalists, 1290; Christians, 
1326; Universalists, 646; Covenanters, 559; all others, 773. 
Deaf and dumb, 166; blind, 172; insane or idiotic, 518. Births 
in 1860, 8722; marriages in 1860, 905; deaths in 1860,2390. 
Dwellings inhabited, 33,700 ; dwellings uninhabited, 1537 ; houses 
building, 1695 ; stores, barns, Sec, 46,464. The increase of popu- 
lation in the province in the ten years, from 1851 to 1861, was 
30*05 per cent. Of the whole population 49*76 per cent, are 
agricultural, or very nearly one-half; 21*71 per cent, are labourers ; 
15*90 per cent, are mechanics and handicraftsmen; 4*48 are 
engaged in commerce; 3*93 in the fisheries and at sea; 1*85 are 
professional; and the remainder miscellaneous. 

Agriculture (I860).— Wheat, 279,775 bushels; barley, 5227 
acres ; barley, 94,679 bushels ; oats, 96,268 acres ; oats, 2,656,883 
bushels ; buckwheat, 41,936 acres ; buckwheat, 904,321 bushels ; 
Indian corn, 635 acres ; Indian corn, 17,420 bushels ; rye, 3944 
acres; rye, 57,504 bushels; potatoes, 37,667 acres; potatoes, 
4,041,339 bushels ; flax (scutched), 4,501,477 lbs. ; butter, 218,067 
lbs. ; wool, 633,757 lbs. ; pork (slaughtered), 9,692,169 ; maple 
sugar, 230,066 ; hay, 324,169 tons. 

The Lieutenant-Governor, in his report to the Colonial Sec- 
retary, says : — " The year 1862 has, on the whole, been one of 
progress ; and, although the effects of the war on this continent are 
undoubtedly still severely felt, prosperity has revived more rapidly 
than could have been anticipated. Agricultural occupations were 
attended with abundant success, and I may safely conclude with 
the expression of my belief that the province at large is thriving 
and contented." 



54 



CHAPTEE VII. 



THE CAS ADAS. 



The Lakes, Rivers, and Canals — The Pictured Rocks — The Great Lakes — Mineral 
Wealth — Commerce, Shipping, Trade, and Statistics — Rivers — The Rapids — 
Canadian Song — Emigration — Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, Kingstown, Hamilton, 
Cobourg, &c— The Farming Interest of Canada — Agricultural Statistics and 
Tables.^ 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Canada is bounded on the south by the United States; upon the 
north side it has no defined limit, but is regarded as including all 
the country watered by streams which flow into the St. Lawrence — 
that is, all the land which lies within the watershed between the 
St. Lawrence and the rivers falling into Hudson's Bay. It extends 
in an irregular line for 1300 miles, while its breadth varies from 
100 to 300 miles. 

Its astronomical position is between latitudes 41° 47' and 52° 40' 
north, and between longitudes 61° 54' and 90° Wf west. 

The whole area covered by the Canadas is 340,000 square miles 
(or ^40,000,000 acres), 140,000 of which belong to Upper Canada 
and '200,000 to Lower Canada. The frontier between Canada and 
the United States is formed by the great lakes and the course of the 
river St. Lawrence, as far as the point where that stream is inter- 
sected by the parallel of 45°, thence by the line of that parallel as 
far east as the meridian of 71° and to the south-east of the river, 
and terminates at the head of the Bay of Chaleurs, on the west side 
of the St. Lawrence. To the north of the 49th parallel, therefore, 
both banks of the St. Lawrence are included within British territory. 

The general topography is as follows : — The province is divided 
into Upper or Western Canada and Lower or Eastern Canada. 
Lower Canada contains five districts — Gaspe, Quebec, Three Rivers, 
St. Francis, and Montreal, which are subdivided into thirty-six 
counties. The two important cities of Montreal and Quebec are 
in this portion of the province. 

I pper Canada is divided into twenty districts, which are again 
subdivided into counties. Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Cobourg, 
London, Oxford, Guelph, Stratford, Chatham, Goderich, and 
Amhcrstburg, arc all cities and towns which will contrast favour- 
ably with the best of the interior cities and towns of England, 
while in a progressive sense they are far in advance. 

Upper Canada is generally level, with but few variations, 
excepting some table heights, and is considered the most fertile. 

Lower Canada is extremely varied and beautiful in its physical 



55 

aspect, presenting to the delighted eye a magnificent gallery of 
charming pictures of forest wilds, prairies, hill and rock bound 
rivers, rushing waters, bold mountain heights, and all everywhere 
intermingled, and their attractions embellished by intervening 
stretches of cultivated fields, and rural villages and villa homes. 

The mountains are confined to Canada East. The principal 
mountains are the Laurentides, which stretch from Lake Superior 
to Labrador and separate the valley of the St. Lawrence from the 
region tributary to Hudson's Bay ; the Green Mountains, which 
lie along the St. Lawrence ; the Mealy Mountains, which in some 
places attain an altitude of 1500 feet ; and the Wotchish Mountains. 

THE LAKES AND RIVERS. 

The grand lakes of the world wash a greater portion of the shores 
of Canada. Lakes Superior, Huron, St. Clair, Erie, Ontario, and the 
River St. Lawrence, with the assistance of the St. Lawrence and 
Welland Canals, afford internal navigation for vessels a distance of 
over 2000 miles from the ocean. According to the last Government 
survey, the following is the exact measurement of these lakes : — 
Lake Superior •" greatest length, 855 miles ; greatest breadth, 160 
miles ; mean depth, 988 feet ; height above the sea, 627 feet ; 
area, 31,000 square miles. It is united by means of the St. Mary's 
Biver, and a system of splendid locks, with Lake Huron, into 
which it pours its waters. Lake Huron : greatest length, 200 
miles; greatest breadth, 160; mean depth, 300 feet; height above 
the sea, 574 feet ; area, 20,000 square miles. It is divided by the 
great Manitonbrin Island into two parts, the northern one of which 
is called Georgian Bay. French Biver, which is situated on its 
northern portion, connects Lake Nipissing with Lake Huron. A 
canal of 29 miles would open navigation with the Ottawa Biver, 
which would save traversing Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and 
shorten the distance from Montreal to either Chicago or Fond du 
Lac, on Lake Superior, 344 miles. The distance between the French 
Biver and Montreal is 430 miles. The distance between Chicago 
and Montreal, via Lake Erie, Ontario, and the St. Lawrence Biver, 
is 1348 miles; by the Ottawa and Huron Canal route, 1005 miles. 

Lake Michigan, another of the grand fresh-water seas, is con- 
nected with Lake Huron by the Straits of Maikinaw. It contains an 
area of 20,000 square miles : greatest length, 360 miles ; greatest 
breadth, 108 miles ; mean depth, 900 ; height above the sea, 587 
feet. Green Bay, a portion of Lake Michigan, and situated on its 
western aspect, has an area of 2000 square miles. Lake St. Clair 
unites Lake Erie and Lake Huron. It is 265 miles long and 50 
broad, and covers an area of 360 miles. Its mean depth is 120 feet. 
Lake Erie possesses an area of 6000 square miles : greatest length, 
250 miles ; greatest breadth, 80 miles ; mean depth, 200 feet ; 
height above the sea, 555 feet. The whole of these waters discharge 



56 

twenty millions of cnbic feet, or 600,000 tons per minute, over an 
abrupt precipice which forms the Falls of Niagara ; and then 
pass along Niagara "River, till they enter Lake Ontario. In 
order to connect navigation, the Welland Canal was constructed 
between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. It consists of the Feeder 
branch from Grand River to Junction, and is 21 miles in length. 
The Broad Creek branch, from Lake Erie to the Feeder, is a mile 
in length ; and the Main Trunk, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, 
28 miles, the total cost of which was 6,269,000 dollars, or little more 
than £1,250,000. 

Lake Ontario : length, 180 miles ; mean breadth, 65 miles ; 
mean depth, 500 feet ; height above the sea, 262 feet ; area, 6000 
square miles. Total length of five lakes, 1345 miles ; total area, 
84,000 square miles. The scenery of the lakes excites the wonder 
of all travellers. There is nothing similar to it in Europe, as far as 
our observation and reading will permit us to judge. 

Lake Superior is situated between latitudes 46° and 49°, with an 
altitude of over 200 yards above the level of the ocean, and a depth 
reaching far below that level ; a coast of surpassing beauty and 
grandeur, more than 1200 miles in extent, and abounding in geolo- 
gical phenomena, varied mineral wealth, agates, cornelian, jasper, 
opal, and other precious stones ; with its rivers, bays, estuaries, 
islands, presque isles, peninsulas, capes, pictured rocks, transparent 
lakes, leaping cascades, and bold highlands, limned with pure veins 
of quartz, spar, and amethystine crystals, full to repletion with 
mineral riches ; reflecting in gorgeous majesty the sun's bright rays, 
and the moon's mellow blush ; o'ertopped with ever-verdant groves 
of fir, cedar, and the mountain ash ; while the background is filled 
up with mountain upon mountain, until rising in majesty to the 
clouds, distance loses their inequality, resting against the clear vault 
of heaven. 

THE PICTURED ROCKS. 

Lake Superior is surrounded by a cordon of flourishing cities 
and villages, which is only broken by the Pictured Rocks and iron 
and copper mines. The Pictured Rocks have been so minutely and 
graphically described, and in construction and appearance are' so 
entirely novel and beautiful, that we have transferred an extract 
from Messrs. Foster and Whitney's " Report of the Geology of the 
Lake Superior District." 

" Beyond the sand-beach at Miners' River the cliffs attain an altitude 
of 173 feet, and maintain a nearly uniform height for a considerable dis- 
tance. Here one of those cascades of which we have before spoken is seen 
foaming down the rock. 

" The cliffs do not form straight lines, but rather arcs of circles, the 
space between the projecting rocks having been worn out in symmetrical 
curves, some of which are of large dimensions. To one of the grandest 
and most regularly formed we gave the name of ' The Amphitheatre.' 
Looking to the west, another projecting point — its base worn into cave- 



57 

like forms — and a portion of the concave surface of the intervening space 
are seen. 

" It is in this portion of the series that the phenomena of colours are 
most beautifully and conspicuously displayed. These cannot be illustrated 
by a mere crayon sketch, but would require, to reproduce the natural effect, 
an elaborate drawing on a large scale, in which the various combinations 
of colour should be carefully represented. These colours do not by any 
means cover the whole surface of the cliff, even where they are most con- 
spicuously displayed, but are confined to certain portions of the cliffs in 
the vicinity of the Amphitheatre; the great mass of the surface presenting 
the natural, light-yellow, or raw-sienna colour of the rock. The colours 
are also limited in their vertical range, rarely extending more than thirty 
or forty feet above the water, or a quarter or a third of the vertical height 
of the cliff. The prevailing tints consist of deep brown, yellow, and grey 
— burnt sienna and French grey predominating. 

" There are also bright blues and greens, though less frequent. All of 
the tints are fresh, brilliant, and distinct, and harmonize admirably with 
one another, which, taken in connexion with the grandeur of the arched 
and caverned surfaces on which they are laid, and the deep and pure green 
of the water which heaves and swells at the base, and the rich foliage 
which waves above, produce an effect truly wonderful. 

" They are not scattered indiscriminately over the surface of the rock, 
but are arranged in vertical and parallel bands, extending to the water's 
edge. The mode of their production is undoubtedly as follows: — Between 
the bands or strata of thick-bedded sandstone there are thin seams of shaly 
materials, which are more or less charged with the metallic oxides, iron 
largely predominating, with here and there a trace of copper. As the 
surface-water permeates through the porous strata, it comes in contact with 
these shaly bands, and, oozing out from the exposed edges, trickles down 
the face of the cliffs, and leaves behind a sediment, coloured according to 
the oxide which is contained in the band in which it originated. It can- 
not, however, be denied that there are some peculiarities which it is diffi- 
cult to explain by any hypothesis. 

" On first examining the Pictured Rocks we were forcibly struck with 
the brilliancy and beauty of the colours, and wondered why some of our 
predecessors, in their descriptions, had hardly adverted to what we re- 
garded as their most characteristic feature. At a subsequent visit we were 
surprised to find that the effect of the colours was much less striking than 
before : they seemed faded out, leaving only traces of their former bril- 
liancy, so that the traveller might regard this as an unimportant feature 
in the scenery. It is difficult to account for this change, but it may be 
due to the dryness or humidity of the season. If the colours are produced 
by the percolation of the water through the strata, taking up and deposit- 
ing the coloured sediments, as before suggested, it is evident that a long 
period of drought would cut off the supply of moisture, and the colours, 
being no longer renewed, would fade, and finally disappear. This 
explanation seems reasonable, for, at the time of our second visit, the beds 
of the streams on the summit of the table-land were dry. 

"It is a curious fact that the colours are so firmly attached to the 
surface that they are very little affected by rains or the dashing of the 
surf, since they were, in numerous instances, observed extending in all 
their freshness to the very water's edge. 



58 

" Proceeding to the eastward of the Amphitheatre, we find the cliffs 
scooped out into caverns and grotesque openings, of the most striking and 
beautiful variety of forms. In some places huge blocks of sandstone have 
become dislodged, and accumulated at the base of the cliff, where they are 
ground up, and the fragments borne away by the ceaseless action of the 
surge. 

" To a striking group of detached blocks the name of ' Sail Rock ' has 
been given, from its striking resemblance to the jib and mainsail of a sloop 
when sj)read — so much so that, when viewed from a distance, with a full 
glare of light upon it, while the cliff in the rear is left in the shade, the 
illusion is perfect. The height of the block is about forty feet. 

" Masses of rock are frequently dislodged from the cliff, if Ave may 
judge from the freshness of the fracture and the appearance of the trees 
involved in the descent. The rapidity with which this undermining pro- 
cess is carried on, at many points, will be readily appreciated when we 
consider that the cliffs do not form a single unbroken hue of wall; but, on 
the contrary, they present numerous salient angles to the full force of the 
waves. A projecting corner is undermined until the superincumbent 
weight becomes too great, the overhanging mass cracks, and aided, perhaps, 
by the power of frost, gradually becomes loosened, and finally topples with 
a crash into the lake." 

It is impossible, by any arrangement of words, or by any 
combination of colours, to convey any idea of this wonderful 
scene. 

We remember once entering a cave, by the side of whose grand 
proportions the portal, the nave, and the dome of St. Paul's sink 
into insignificance. Two hundred feet in height, -±00 feet in width, 
and for a distance of 600 feet, this structure projected into the lake. 
The grand portal, which opens out on the lake, is of magnificent 
dimensions, being about 100 feet in height, and 168 feet broad at the 
water-level. The. distance from the verge of the cliff over the arch 
to the water is 138 feet, leaving 33 feet for the thickness of the 
rock above the arch itself. The extreme height of the cliff is about 
50 feet more, making in all 180 feet. The vast dimensions of the 
cavern ; the vaulted passages ; the varied effects of the light, as it 
streams through the great arch and falls on the different objects ; the 
deep emerald green of the water ; the unvarying swell of the lake, 
keeping up a succession of musical echoes ; the reverberations of one's 
own voice coming back with startling effect : all these must be seen, 
and heard, and felt, to be fully appreciated. Iron mines and moun- 
tains are plentiful ; and since their discovery, in 1846, and the com- 
pletion of the Saut Ste. Marie canal, in 1855, they have been rapidly 
developed. The Jackson Mountains rise to a height of 600 or 700 
feet, and are a solid mass of ore, yielding from 50 to 60 per cent., 
and at present yield 1000 tons a week. There is also the New 
England Iron Mountain, the Burt Iron Mountain, and the Cleve- 
land Iron Mountain. The beds of ore are inexhaustible, and 
analysis and practical demonstration have proved them to be the 
richest and best in the world. 



59 



REPORT OF THE HON. S. P. CHASE. 

In the Keport of the Hon. S. P. Chase, Secretary of Treasury of 
the United States for 1864, he states as follows : — 

In 1 862, the number of vessels engaged in the trade of Lake 
Superior was, schooners, 543 ; tons, 175,595. Propellers, 121 ; 
tons, 65,124. Steamers, 174; tons, 124,833. Total, 365,552 tons. 
These vessels carried outward 150,000 tons of iron and iron ore, and 
9300 tons of pure or native copper, valued together at 12,000,000 
dollars. The inward or westward shipment of merchandise, ma- 
chinery for working works, is estimated at 10,000,000 dollars. 

Shipments of copper from Lake Superior from 1858 to 1862 :■ — 

Tons. Value. 

1858 .... 5,896 .... 1,610,000 dollars. 

1859 .... 6,041 .... 1,932,000 „ 

1860 .... 8,614 .... 2,520,000 „ 

1861 .... 10,347 .... 3,180,000 „ 

1862 .... 10,000 .... 4,000,000 „ 
Products of iron and iron ore in Lake Superior region : — 

Tons, Ore. Tons, Pig. Value. 

1855 . . . 1,445 14,470 dollars. 

1860 . . . 116,998 . . 5,660 . . 736,490 „ 

1861 . . . 45,430 . . 7,970 . . 410,460 „ 

1862 . . . 115,721 . . 8,590 . . 984,976 „ 

The Mineral Wealth of Lake Superior. — The whole basin of 
Lake Superior indicates the presence of iron and copper. The 
mountains which divide the waters of Lake Michigan to the south- 
east, of the Mississippi River and its tributaries to the south-west and 
west, of the Rainy Lake River to the north-west, and of Hudson's 
Bay to the north and north-east — the outer rim of the Superior basin 
— are found, wherever explored, to contain iron ore. The mines at 
Marquette, Michigan, have been successfully worked, in consequence 
of the construction of a railroad from the harbour of Marquette to 
the Iron Mountain, 18 miles distant ; but iron deposits in the same 
mineral range are situated at no greater distance south of Bayfield 
and Superior, in Wisconsin, and thence have been traced around 
the north shore of the lake, in Minnesota and in Canada. 

Nearer the lake coast, and apparently a lower formation, are the 
copper districts. The only locality on the southern shore which has 
attracted attention, is a district extending from Keweenaw Point to 
the Montreal River, 100 miles in length by 4 to 20 miles in width. 
On the north shore of the lake, in Minnesota, near the western 
extremity of the lake, and in Canada for a distance of 200 miles 
northwest from the Saut Ste. Marie, are well-defined copper regions 
which are now attracting the attention of capitalists, and will pro- 
bably prove as productive as the Keweenaw, Portage Lake, Onto- 
nagon, and Carp Lake districts, as the subdivisions of the Michigan 
copper-bearing territory are termed. 

During the year 1863, discoveries were made in the vicinity of 
Marquette, which suggest that Michigan is destined to become, at 



60 

an early day, a great silver-yielding State.* The newly-discovered 
district is known as the granite range, lying between the schistose or 
iron range and Lake Superior, and is from 10 to 20 miles in breadth, 
and about 50 miles in length. Lodes of argentiferous galena have 
been found in this region, yielding from 10 to 80 pounds of silver 
to the ton of metal. Assays made on some of the ores have dis- 
covered gold in them to the value of 60 to 240 dollars. If these 
statements are confirmed, the silver district of Lake Superior will 
exceed in value either of the ranges now yielding copper and iron. 

Under the impulse of the present demand for iron and copper, 
the Minnesota district, extending from Fond du Lac to the Grand 
Portage at the mouth of Pigeon River, has been thoroughly ex- 
plored with satisfactory results ; while Canada has taken effective 
measures for the encouragement of mining enterprises on the 
remainder of the northern shore. Title to mineral lands on Lake 
Superior can now be acquired from Canada at one dollar per acre, 
subject to a tax of one dollar per ton of ore. This order will have 
the effect to transfer English capital to the Nepigon, Pic and Michi- 
picoton districts of Lake Superior, as it is now admitted that the 
copper-mines of Great Britain have lately failed of their former 
productiveness. A correspondent of the London Milling Journal 
states that " the very rich mines of Cornwall and Devon are limited 
in the present day, and that some thirty or forty of the greatest and 
richest mines in those counties are exhausted, at least for copper." 
There were, in March, 1864, more than fifty bills : before the Cana- 
dian Parliament to incorporate companies for mining gold, silver, 
lead, antimony, iron, and copper. 

Similar and greater activity prevails in all the American dis- 
tricts of Lake Superior. The total amount of capital invested in 
the fee-simple and development of the copper-mines now worked in 
Michigan, not including the value of the metal produced, is 
estimated at 6,000,000 dollars, while their stocks are worth over 
15,000,000 dollars. The aggregate amount of copper produced in 
1863 was not less than 9000 tons of stamp work, barrel and mass, 
or about 7500 tons of ingot, worth at its present value over 
6,000,000 dollars ; but as the largest portion was probably sold at 
an average of 35 cents per pound, the aggregate receipt of sales 
will not be much over 5,000,000 dollars. The products of the Mar- 
quette iron-mines for 1868 are reported as 185,000 gross tons of ore, 
and 13,732 gross tons of pig iron. In 1855 the product of the 
same mines was only 1447 tons of iron ore, with no production of 
pig iron ; in 1858, 31,035 tons of iron ore, and 1627 tons of pig iron. 

The exports, of all values, for 1863, from Lake Superior, will 
amount to 10,000,000 dollars; imports, 12.000,000; consisting, in 
addition to provisions and merchandise for the mining villages, of 

* In the same vicinity, the Huron mountains are reported to be gold-bearing, 
and at the latest date (June 13, 1864) there is a probability that the discove- 
ries and production of gold in this district of the Lake Superior basin will fully 
equal the facts in regard to ailver. 



61 



shipments of machinery and other materials for permanent improve- 
ments. 

SHIPPING. 

A review of the progress and increase of the shipping employed 
upon the lakes for the last few years will give an idea of the mag- 
nitude of the trade which is carried on, and also prove that it has 
been steadily progressive and remunerative. 

Table showing the Number, Class, Tonnage, and Valuation of Vessels, American 
and Canadian, engaged in the Commerce of the Lakes, 1858 to 1864. 



CLASS OF VESSELS. 


AMERICAN. 


CANADIAN. 




No. 


Tonnage. 


Valuation. 


No. 


Tonnage. 


Valuation. 


1858 Steamers 


72 
113 

69 
129 
830 


48,031 

56,994 

6,366 

42,592 

177,170 




67 

14 

5 

37 

212 


24,784 

4,197 

415 

10,793 

32,959 




Propellers 










Barques and Brigs 
















Totals 


1,213 


331,153 




335 


73,148 










1859— Steamers 

Propellers 

Tu£S 


68 
118 
72 
32 
64 
833 


46,240 

55,657 

7,779 

9,666 

30,452 


Dollars. 

1,779,900 

2,217,100 

456,500 

482,800 


54 
16 
17 
15 


21,402 
4,127 
2,921 
5,720 
3,295 

32,198 


Dollars. 
989,200 
140,500 
184,800 


Barques 


134,000 


Brigs 


45G.000 14 


78,400 


Schooners 


173,362 | 4,378,900 


197 


778,300 


Totals 


1,198 


323,156 


9,811,200 


313 


69,663 


2,305,200 






1860 — Steamers 

Propellers 

Barques 


75 
190 

44 

76 

831 


47,333 
57,210 
17,929 
21,505 
172,526 


2,439,840 

3,250,390 

584,540 

484,250 

5,233,085 


77 
27 
23 
16 
217 


25,939 
7,289 
7,882 
3,815 

31,792 


1,499,680 

407,290 

246,480 

94,380 

898,560 


Brigs 

Schooners 


Totals 


1,216 

65 
107 
91 
48 
75 
843 


316,503 11.992.105 


360 


76,717 


3,146,390 










1861 — Steamers 

Propellers 

Tugs 


42,683 
50,018 
9,155 
19,616 
22,124 
180,357 


1,489.800 

2,123,000 

565,700 

469,000 

435,900 

4,525,000 


63 
15 
22 
19 
15 
222 


21,107 
4,562 
4,842 
7,153 
4,223 

33,771 


1,019,200 
176,000 
202,300 


Barques 


188,500 


Brigs 


101,000 


Schooners 


822,300 


Totals 


1,229 


323,953 


9,608,400 


356 


75,658 


2,509,300 




1862— Steamers 

Propellers 

Tuss 


66 
122 
132 

60 

75 

908 


43,683 
52,932 
17,280 
26,555 


1,403,800 

2,344,800 

922,200 

786.800 


64 
16 
22 
22 
14 
229 


28,104 
5,154 
8,4S2 
7,871 
4,223 

35,062 


1,020,200 
181,000 
202,300 


Barques 


224,500 


Brigs 


22,124 i 466.700 


107,000 


Schooners 


199,423 


5,439,800 


872,500 


Totals 


1,363 


361,997 


11,364,100 


367 


88,896 


2,607,500 







Comparative Statement of the Tonnage of the North- Western Lakes and the 
River St. Lawrence on the 1st day of January } 1862 and 1863. 



CLASS OF VESSELS. 



1862. 



No. Tonnage. 



Value. 



1863. 



No. Tonnage. Value 



Steamers 

Propellers 

Barques . 

Brigs 

Schooners 

Sloops 

Barges . . 



147 

203 

62 

86 

989 

15 



64,669 
60,951 
25,118 
25,871 
204,900 
2,800 



Totals. 



1,502 



383,309 



Dollars. 

2,668,900 

2,814,900 
621,800 
501,100 

5,248,900 
11,850 



11,862,450 



143 

254 

74 

85 

,068 

16 

3 



53,622 

70,253 

23,203 

24,831 

227,831 

667 

3,719 



Dollars. 

2,190,300 

3,573,300 

982,900 

526,200 

5,955,550 

12,770 

17,000 



1,643 



413,026 



13,257,020 



The following is the increase of the lake marine in 1862, distin- 
guishing American and Canadian vessels, as reported by the same 
authority : — 



CLASS OF VESSELS. 


United States Vessels Building. 


Canadian Vessels Building. 




No. 


Tonnage, j Value. 


No. 


Tonnage. 


Value. 


Steamers 


\ 



8 

2 

38 


j Dollars. 
1,114 i 83,550 
3,815 276,125 
1,194 ! 89,550 
1,037 i 46,665 
15,546 654,570 


2 
6 


970 
1,960 


Dollars. 

72,750 

147 000 


Propellers 


Propeller Tugs 




Barques 


6 
10 
19 


2,690 
3,100 
6,600 


121,050 
139,500 
198,000 


Schooners 


Barges 








Totals 


56 


21,706 j 1,150,455 


43 


15,320 


678,800 




5 steam-boats 




Summary. 




Aggrcgal 
. Ij 


c Tonnage. 

)84 

L94 

m 

346 
300 

)26 


11 propellers . 








• 3/ 
1, 


8 steam tusrs . 








8 barques 








• 3/ 

. 17,< 
. ft* 


48 schooners . 








19 barges . . 
99 vessels buile 


ling. 


Total tonnci 


LgC . 



The Chicago statement shows that 1730 vessels, with an aggre- 
gate capacity of 450,899 tons, were engaged in lake commerce 
of a general character, east and west, in 1862, of which one-fifth 
was Canadian. 

Chicago shipped eastward, in 186:2, 1,739,849 barrels of flour; 
13,808,898 bushels of wheat ; 29,452,610 bushels of corn ; 3,112,366 
bushels of oats ; 871,796 bushels of rye ; 532,195 bushels of barley; 
of which Canada, Collingwood, Godcrich, Samia, Kingston, Port 
Colborne, Montreal, and Toronto received, in 1862— flour, 420,544 



63 

barrels; wheat, 3,098,434 bushels; corn, 6,005,661 bushels ; oats, 
157,352 bushels; rye, 200,659 bushels; barley, 71,919 bushels ; 
being nearly one-fourth of the whole quantity. 

RIVERS. 

Canada is as rich in the beauty and extent of her rivers as she 
is proud of her share in the noble lakes that adorn the interior of 
America. 

The St. Lawrence. — This is her grandest river, and drains the 
vast inland seas of America that extend from Lake Ontario, 750 
miles, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the sea. The 
entire length, including the great lakes, by which it is fed, is 2200 
miles. Its principal tributaries are the Ottawa and the Saguenay ; 
and the lesser ones are the Richelieu or Sorel, the St. Francis, the 
Chaudiere, and other streams. 

The Ottaiva is 780 miles in length, and 300 miles from its 
source it passes through Lake Temiscamin ; 67 miles lower, at the 
head of the lake, Blanche River falls in. Thirty-four miles further 
down it receives the waters of the Montreal River, coming 120 
miles from the north-west ; next it receives the Keepawasippi, which 
has its origin in Lake Keepawa. Then, 197 miles below Ottawa 
City, it receives the Matawhan ; next, the Petawawa River, 140 
miles long, draining 2200 square miles ; the Black River, draining 
1120 square miles ; the Madawoska River, 200 miles long, draining 
4100 square miles ; the Gastineau River, 420 miles long, draining 
12,000 square miles ; the Riviere du Lievre, draining an area of 
4100 square miles. One hundred and thirty miles below the city 
of Ottawa (the capital of the future British North American Con- 
federacy) the waters of the Ottawa River, after draining 80,000 
square miles of rich and fertile country, mingle with the noble St. 
Lawrence. 

The Saguenay is another of the great tributaries to the St. Law- 
rence. It is almost straight in its direction, and crowned on either 
side by grand precipices. It has neither windings, nor projecting 
bluffs, nor sloping banks, nor sandy shores like other rivers, nor is 
its stern, strange aspect varied by either village or villa. " It is," 
says a voyager thither, " as if the mountain range had been cleft 
asunder, leaving a horrid gulf, of 60 miles in length and 4000 feet 
in depth, through the grey mica schist, and still looking fresh and 
new. One thousand five hundred feet of this is perpendicular 
cliff, often too steep and solid for the hemlock or dwarf oak to 
find root ; in which case, being covered with coloured lichens and 
moss, their fresh-looking fractures often appear in shape and colour 
like painted fans, and are called the ' Pictured Rocks.' But those 
parts more slanting are thickly studded with stunted trees — spruce, 
maple, and birch growing wherever they can find crevices to ex- 
tract nourishment; and the bare roots of the oak, grasping the rock, 



64 

have a resemblance to gigantic claws. The bases of these cliffs lie 
far under water, to an unknown depth. For many miles from its 
mouth no soundings have been obtained with 2000 feet of line ; 
and, for the entire distance of 60 miles, until you reach Ha-Ha 
Bay, the largest ships can sail, without obstruction from banks or 
shoals, and, on reaching the extremity of the bay, can drop their 
anchor in 30 fathoms. The view up this river is singular in many re- 
spects. Hour after hour, as we sail along, precipice after precipice 
unfolds itself to view, as in a moving panorama ; and we sometimes 
forget the size or height of the objects we are contemplating, until 
reminded by seeing a ship of 1000 tons lying, like a small pinnace, 
under the towering cliff to which she is moored — for even in these 
remote and desolate regions industry is at work, and, although we 
cannot much discern it, saw-mills have been built on some of the 
tributary streams which fall into the Saguenay. But what strikes 
one most is the absence of beach or strand ; for, except in a few 
places where mountain torrents, rushing through gloomy ravines, 
have washed down the detritus of the hills, and formed some alluvial 
land at the mouth, no coves, nor creeks, nor projecting rocks are 
seen in which a boat could find shelter, or any footing be obtained. 
The characteristic is a steep wall of rock rising abruptly from the 
water ; a dark and desolate region where all is cold and gloomy ; 
the mountains hidden with driving mist ; the water black as ink 
and cold as ice. No ducks nor sea-gulls sitting on the water or 
screaming for their prey ; no hawks nor eagles soaring overhead, 
although there is abundance of what might be called ' Eagle Cliffs ; ' 
no deer coming down to drink at the streams ; no squirrels nor 
birds to be seen among the trees ; no fly on the water nor swallows 
skimming over the surface. It reminds us of — 

1 That lake whose gloomy shore 
Skylark never warbled o'er.' 

Now we reach Cape Eternity, Cape Trinity, and many other 
overhanging cliffs, remarkable for having such clean fractures, 
seldom equalled for boldness and effect, which create constant 
apprehension of danger, even in calm ; but if wc happen to be 
caught in a thunder-storm, the roar and darkness and flashes of 
lightning are perfectly frightful. At last we terminate our voyage 
at Ha-Ha Bay, that is, smiling or laughing bay, in the Indian 
tongue, for wc are perfectly charmed and relieved to arrive at a 
beautiful spot, where we have sloping banks, a pebbly shore, boats, 
and wherries, and vessels riding at anchor, birds and animals, a 
village church, French Canadians, and Scottish Highlanders." The 
course of the Saguenay is 126 miles from Lake St. John to the 
St. Lawrence, which it enters 140 miles below Quebec. 

All the streams falling into the great lakes or the St. Lawrence 
River are mostly rapid, and are navigable only for a short distance 
from their mouths. 






65 

The following arc the principal rivers that are navigable for any 
considerable length. 

AMERICAN SIDE. Miles. 

St. Louis River, Min. . Superior to Fond du Lac . . 20 

Fox, or Neenah, Wis. . Green Bay to L. Winnehago . 36 

St. Joseph, Mich. . . St. Joseph to Niles . ... 26 

Grand River . . . Grand Haven to Grand Rapids 40 

Muskegon .... Muskegon to Newavgo ... 40 

Saginaw Saginaw Bay to Upper Saginaw 26 

Maumee, Ohio . . . Maumee Bay to Perrysburgh . IS 

Genesse, N. T. . . . Charlotte to Rochester ... 6 

CANADIAN SIDE. Miles. 

Thames Lake St. Clair to Chatham . . 24 

Ottawa La Chine to Carillon ... 40 

Ditto By means of locks to Ottawa City TO 

-r,. , v , fSorel to Lake Champlain bv~)*-~ 

Kicheheu or Sorel . .\ means of ]o(;ks . /. . J J1S 

Saguenay Tadusac to Chicoutimi ... 70 

Thence to Lake St. John . . 50 

It is said that the St. Lawrence River carries by Montreal 
50,000,000 cubic feet of water per minute, and in the course of one 
year bears 143,000,000 tons of solid materials, held in solution, to 
the sea. 

"The main stream of the St. Lawrence," says Buckingham, 
speaking of the Thousand Islands, f'is so thickly studded with 
islands that it is like passing through a vast archipelago, rather than 
navigating a mighty river. They are for the most part rocky islets, 
sometimes rising in abrupt cliffs from the water, and so bold and 
steep that you may run the boat near enough to touch the cliffs 
from the vessel. A few only are low and flat, but being nearly all 
wooded they form a perpetual succession of the most romantically 
beautiful and picturesque groups that can be conceived. Among 
the Thousand Islands are usually found immense quantities of water- 
fowl and other kinds of wild game, which, during the spring and 
summer months, afford great pleasure to the sportsman. The 
fishing is also excellent for the most part of the year. During the 
months of July and August pleasure-parties from the surrounding 
country, and strangers from a distance, resort here for their amuse- 
ment, enjoying themselves to their hearts' content by hunting, 
fishing, and bathing, being surrounded by wild and interesting 
scenery and invigorating air, not exceeded by any section of the 
United States or Canada." 

The St. Lawrence River, in fact, for its entire length of several 
hundred miles, presents a magnificent appearance, well worthy the 
attention of the tourist. 

F 



66 



THE RAPIDS. 



The Rapids, now successfully navigated on their downward trip 
by steamboats of a large class, returning through the canals, afford 
a deeply interesting excursion. The cultivated fields and settle- 
ments interchanging with bolder features impart a grandeur as well 
as variety and beauty to the river and its shores, which no other 
stream on the continent possesses in an equal degree. Eead the 
following description by a tourist describing his impressions of a 
trip down the St. Lawrence : — 

" The St. Lawrence is, perhaps, the only river in the world possessing 
so great a variety of scenery and character in the short distance of 180 
miles — from Kingston to Montreal. The voyage down this portion of the 
St. Lawrence in a steamer is one of the most exciting and interesting that 
our country affords to the pleasure-seeking traveller. Starting at day- 
light from the good old city of Kingston, we are at first enraptured by the 
lovely and fairy-like scenery of the ' Lake of the Thousand Isles,' and oft 
Ave wonder how it is that our helmsman can guide us through the intricate 
path that lies before him. Surely he will make some mistake, and we 
shall lose our way, and our steamer wander for ages ere the trackless path 
be once more discovered. However, we are wrong, and long before the 
sun has set we have shot the ' Long Saut,' and are passing through the 
calm and peaceful Lake St. Francis. Gently Ave glide along, and are lost 
in pleasing reveries, which grace the scenes of our forenoon's travel. Sud- 
denly Ave are awakened from our dreams by a pitch, and then a quick jerk 
of our vessel, and rising to see the cause, Ave find ourselves receiving 
warning in the Coteau Rapids of what Ave may expect when Ave reach the 
Cedars, a feAv miles farther on. Noav the bell is rung for the engine 
to slow its speed, and, glancing toward the beam, Ave find it merely moving 
sufficient to keep headway on the A-essel ; uoav looking toAvard the Avheel- 
man's house, Ave see four men standing by the Avheel; backAvard Ave turn 
our gaze, and four more stand by the tiller, to assist those at the Avheel in 
guiding our craft doAvn the fearful leaps she is about to take. These pre- 
parations striking us with dread, Ave, Avho are now making our first trip, 
involuntarily clutch the nearest object for support, and, checking our 
breath, await the first plunge. 'Tis over. We are reeling to and fro, 
and dancing hither and thither among billoAvs of enormous size, caused 
solely by the swiftness of the current. With difficulty Ave keep our feet 
Avhile rushing down the tortuous channel, through which only Ave can be 
preserved from total Avreck or certain death. Noav turning to the right, to 
avoid a half-sunken rock, about Avhose summit the Avaves are ever dash- 
ing, Ave are apparently running on an island situated immediately before 
us. On! on Ave rush! Ave must ground! But no; her head is easing off, and, 
as Ave fly past the island, a daring leap might land us on its shores; and uoav 
again Ave are tossed and Avhirled about in a sea of foam. We look back to 
scan the dangers past, and see a raft far behind, struggling in the Avaves. 
While contemplating its dangers Ave forget our oavii, and the lines of Horace 
appear peculiarly applicable to the Indian Avho first entrusted his frail 
canoe to these terrific rapids — 

' Illi robur et yes triplex 

Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci 



67 

Commisit pelago ratem 
Primus. ' " 

Tom Moore has immortalized the Ottawa River and the little 
village of St. Anne's, situated at the south-west end of the island of 
Montreal, in verse : — 

"CANADIAN" SONG. 

" By Thos. Moore. 

M Faintly as tolls the evening chime, 
Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time : 
Soon as the woods on shore look dim, 
We'll sing at St. Anne's our parting hymn. 

Eow, brothers, row, the stream runs fast, 
The Rapids are near, and the daylight's past. 

" Why should we yet our sail unfurl ? 
There is not a breath the blue wave to curl ; 
But when the wind blows off the shore, 
Oh ! sweetly we'll rest our weary oar. 

Blow, breezes, blow, the stream runs fast 
The Rapids are near, and the daylight's past 

" Ottawa's tide ! this trembling moon 
Shall see us float over thy purges soon. 
Saint of this green isle, hear our prayers ! 
Oh ! grant us cool heavens and fav'ring airs. 
Blow, breezes, blow, the stream runs fast, 
The Rapids are near, and the daylight's past." 

EMIGRATION. 

The Canadian Almanac for 1864 contains such a concise and 
excellent chapter on the reasons for emigrating to Canada, and 
describes so graphically the peculiar features of the land, its capa- 
bilities, its physical characteristics, and the character of the people, 
together with such carefully-arranged statistics, showing their 
educational and religious status, that we have transferred much of 
it to these pages, believing that we cannot better serve the emigrant 
than by publishing a portion at least : — 

" Ten Reasons for Emigrating to Canada. 

" The aim of the man who contemplates changing the land of his birth 
for another being, generally speaking, the improvement of his condition, 
the question where the circumstances may be looked for most favourable to 
the realization of his desire, claims his best thought. Such thought he 
owes to himself, to his family if he has one, and to those among whom he 
may decide on taking up his abode ; because mistake in his choice may 
involve him and those he loves in disappointment and distress, and entail 
weakness on those to whom he should bring strength. 

" In favour of the selection of Canada as his future home, the attention 

F 2 



68 

of the intending emigrant is respectfully invited to the considerations which 
follow: — 

" 1. Its accessibility. 

" Compared with other regions open to him, it may be reached in a 
very short time (eleven days by steam), at a trifling expense, and with a 
small amount of inconvenience. 

" In sailing-vessels, the rates of steerage passage vary, according to 
accommodation, from £3 to £4 or £5 sterling. The charge between 
Liverpool, Londonderry, or Glasgow, and Toronto, by the Montreal Steam- 
ship Line, is 34 dollars, including provisions ; between Glasgow and 
Quebec or Montreal, 29 dollars. By the Anchor Line, the charge between 
Glasgow and Quebec is 25 dollars. The Great Eastern charges 30 dollars 
between Liverpool and New York. Its cabin rates are — 1st cabin, 95-135 
dollars ; 2nd cabin, 70 dollars ; 3rd cabin, 50 dollars. By the Montreal 
Line, the cabin passage varies, with accommodation, from 72-88 dollars. 
The cabin fare between Glasgow and Quebec, by the Ocean Line, is 68 
dollars ; intermediate, 44 dollars. By the Anchor Line, 60 dollars ; 
intermediate 30 dollars. Children are carried by them all at lower rates, 
generally half-price. 

" Once landed at Quebec or Montreal, the emigrant may pass on to 
Toronto, or Hamilton, or any intermediate locality, by steamboat or rail- 
way ; and thence by railway to the western extremity of the province. 
The Northern Railway will take him to any place he pleases on the route 
between Toronto and Collingwood, Lake Huron, whence he can pass on to 
Owen Sound and intermediate places by steamer. The cost of the passage 
by deck of steamer and second-class cars is, from Quebec to Toronto, a 
distance of 500 miles, about 5 dollars, with corresponding rates for places 
intermediate ; to Windsor, the western extremity of the province, 631 miles 
from Quebec, 7 dols. 12 J cents. ; to Barrie, 565 miles, 6 dols. 50 cents. ; to 
Collingwood, 593 miles, 7 dollars. The time between Quebec and Toronto 
is, by railway, about 36 hours ; by s'tcamboat, a day or two longer. 
Toronto may be reached by railway from Portland, the ocean terminus of 
the Grand Trunk, in from 25 to 26 hours. 

11 As, moreover, he may return to his old home so much more easily, 
should he for any reason wish to do so, he is less irretrievably committed 
by coming here than by going elsewhere. A visit to it is also at any time 
much more practicable, other things being equal. His friends may like- 
wise, if so disposed, follow him with much less of difficulty ; thus renewing 
associations of which necessity had compelled the temporary interruption. 

" 2. The scope afforded by its extent, both for the successful employment of 
his capabilities, and the gratification of his tastes in the choice of a home. 

" Leaving out the territory to the north-west, the opening of which 
may be looked for ere long, Canada occupies a space, stretching in a south- 
westerly direction from the Island of Anticosti in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
to the south-western extremity of Lake Erie, of about 1400 miles in 
length ; with a breadth varying from 200 to 400 miles. Including water- 
suriace, it is computed to contain an area of 349,821 square miles — 
242,482 exclusive of water. The number of acres comprised within it is 
estimated at 100,405,219 — 128,059,684 of which are reckoned to Canada 
East ; to Canada West, 31,745,533. 



69 



" 3. The physical characteristics of the country, its natural resources, and 
its healthfulness. 

" In its mines, in its forests, and in its fisheries, Canada has stores of 
untold, of almost inconceivable wealth, which its numerous lakes and 
rivers supply facilities for conveying to market. 

u Of metallic minerals, the following are enumerated in a catalogue 
contained in ' Canada at the Universal Exhibition, in 1855,' to wit, Mag- 
netic Iron Ore, Specular Iron Ore, Limonite (Bog Ore), Titaniferous Iron, 
Sulphate of Zinc (Blende), Sulphate of Lead (Galena), Copper, Nickel, 
Silver, Gold. Non-metallic : — Teranium, Chromium, Cobalt, Manganese, 
Iron Pyrites, Graphite, Dolomite, Carbonate of Magnesia, Sulphate of 
Baryta, Iron Ochres, Steatite, Lithographic Stone, Agates, Jasper, Labra- 
dore, Felspar, Aventurine, Hyacinth, Corumdum, Amethyst, Jet, Quart- 
zose Sandstone, Retinite and Basalt, Gypsum, Shell Marl, Phosphate of 
Lime, Millstones, Grindstones, Whetstones, and Tripoli. Under the head 
of l Building Materials,' are specified Granites, Sandstone, Calcareous Sand- 
Stone, Limestones, Hydraulic Limestones, Roofing Slates, Flagging Stones ; 
clays suitable for the formation of red and white bricks, tiles, and coarse 
pottery ; Moulding Sand, Fuller's Earth ; and Marbles, white, black, red, 
brown, yellow and black, grey and variegated, and green. Of com- 
bustibles — Peat, Petroleum, and Asphaltum are named. Some of these are 
confined to a single locality, others to a few places ; but the more useful of 
them are widely distributed, and their quantities very great. 

" Though our fisheries are as yet in their infancy, they employ from 
1200 to 1500 boats, with nearly 100 vessels. The annual value of their 
products is, for Lower Canada, 942,528 dollars ; for Upper Canada, 
380,000 dollars ; total, 1,322,528 dollars. 

" Exclusive of furs, the products of the forest amounted, in 1860, to 
11,012,253 dollars. 

" Our climate, notwithstanding the extremes of cold and heat to which 
it is liable, which, however, are often greatly exaggerated, is eminently 
favourable, as the tables of longevity and the habits of the people prove, 
both to life and enjoyment. 

" According to Professor Guy, the proportion of deaths to the popula- 



tion is, in 



Austria 1 in 40 

Denmark 1 in 45 

France 1 in 42 

Portugal 1 in 40 

Russia in Europe .... 1 in 44 

Switzerland 1 in 40 

United States 1 in 74 

Lower Canada 1 in 92 



Belgium 1 in 43 

England 1 in 46 

Norway and Sweden. 1 in 41 

Prussia 1 in 39 

Spain 1 in 40 

Turkey 1 in 50 

Upper Canada 1 in 102 

All Canada 1 in 98 



11 ' The salubrity of the province,' remarks Mr. Hogan, from whom we 
have taken the above table, ' is sufficiently proved by its cloudless skies, its 
elastic air, and almost entire absence of fogs. The lightness of the atmo- 
sphere has a most invigorating effect upon the spirits. The winter frosts 
are severe and steady, and the summer suns are hot, and bring on vegeta- 
tion with wonderful rapidity. It is true that the spring of Canada differs 
much from the spring of many parts of Europe ; but after her long winter, 



70 

the crops start up as if by magic, and reconcile her inhabitants to the loss 
of that which, elsewhere, is often the sweetest season of the year. If, how- 
ever, Canada has but a short spring, she can boast of an autumn deliciously 
mild, and often lingering on, with its Indian summer and golden sunsets, 
until the month of December. 

" ' A Canadian winter, the mention of which some years ago, in 
Europe, conveyed almost a sensation of misery, is hailed rather as a season 
of increased enjoyment than of privation and discomfort by the people. 
Instead of alternate rain, snow, sleet, and fog, with broken-up and impass- 
able roads, the Canadian has clear skies, a fine bracing atmosphere, with 
the rivers and many of the smaller lakes frozen, and the inequalities in the 
rough tracks through the woods made smooth by snow, the whole face of 
the country being literally macadamized by nature for a people as yet un- 
able to macadamize for themselves.' 

" 4. The constituents and character of its imputation. 

" As a matter of course, its inhabitants share in the common charac- 
teristics of the races whence they have sprung — which include the leading 
peoples of Europe, those especially of the British Islands, and France and 
Germany — and natives of the United States. The circumstances in which 
they are placed — the constant demand on them for exertion during the 
earlier period of their residence in the country, the self-dependence they 
are called on to exercise, connected with the measure in which they are 
thrown on one another's sympathy, and the hope amidst which they work 
— have a direct tendency to develop not a few of their better qualities. 
Even the variety of their previous modes of thought and action, though 
occasioning perhaps for a time some inconvenience, is a gain to them in 
the end by the contributions which it enables them to make severally to 
the common stock of ideas, and the habit which it produces of tolerance 
for unessential differences, consideration for one another's feelings, and 
appreciation of each others virtues. 

" An incidental advantage of no small value, resulting from the variety 
of origin to which allusion has been made, is the sympathy which the new 
comer may look for from his countrymen, with the measure in which the 
privilege of association with them helps to make him ieel himself at home. 
This is a source of comfort specially open to emigrants from Britain, 
France, and the neighbouring States. 

" Among the larger portion of our people there exists, alongside of the 
variety of origin alluded to, a homogeneousness which greatly facilitates 
their welding into one community, imparting to them, while the process is 
going on, a coincidence of feeling which makes living among them easy and 
pleasant, and secures their acting together in all matters of special moment. 

" The beneficial influence mutually exerted by the new corner and the 
older resident on one another, is well brought out in the following passage 
of Mr. llogan : — 

"'It is a remarkable fact that the farmers of Upper Canada have 
opportunities of improvement, and of enlarging and correcting their views, 
beyond what are enjoyed by many of their class even in England. And 
this arises from the circumstance of the population being made up of so 
many varieties. The same neighbourhood has frequently a representative 
of the best farming skill of Yorkshire, of the judicious management and 



71 

agricultural experiences of the Lothians, and of the patient industry and 
perseverance of Flanders. In a country so peopled, the benefits of travel 
are gained without the necessity of going away from home. Other 
countries, in fact, send their people to teach Canadians, instead of Cana- 
dians having to go to other countries to learn ; a thousand experiences 
are brought to their doors, instead of their having to visit a thousand 
doors to acquire them. Nor is the advantage of this happy admixture of 
population altogether on the side of the Canadian ; for whilst he gleans 
from the old countryman his skill and his science, he teaches him, in 
return, how to rely upon himself in emergencies and difficulties inseparable 
from a new country, how to be a carpenter when a storm blows down a 
door and there is no carpenter to be had, and how to be an undismayed 
wheelwright when a waggon breaks down in the midst of a forest and 
there is no one either to instruct or assist him. The one, in short, imparts 
to a comparatively rude people the knowledge and skill of an old and 
civilized country ; the other teaches skilled labour how to live in a new 
land. The consequence is, the old countryman of tact becomes, in all 
that relates to self-reliance and enterprise, a capital Canadian in a few 
years; Avhilst the Canadian, in all that pertains to skilful industry, becomes 
an Englishman.' 

" The operation of the same fact — the mixed character of our popula- 
tion — on the culture of taste is shown in continuance of the above, but 
our space compels us to leave it unquoted. The principle may be applied 
more widely than it is by Mr. Hogan. Its power is, in fact, coextensive 
with our whole thinking and working. 

"5. Its institutions. 

" Nowhere is a more perfect freedom enjoyed than here. Of a state of 
liberty more complete it would indeed be difficult to form even a conception. 
We live under laws of our own making or voluntary adoption, administered 
in courts established by ourselves, and by judges of our own appointing. 
The men by whom our general affairs are managed are chosen by 
ourselves and responsible to us for their conduct. Our municipal system 
gives the people a power in local matters which is supreme, and affords to 
the more ambitious and intelligent among them an opportunity of pre- 
paring themselves for the performance of higher duties, as well as of 
attracting the notice and securing the respect of the community. Of 
influence or station, there is nothing among us to which the poorest may 
not aspire. 

" The general features of the municipal law of Upper Canada, and 
which, with some modifications suited to the different state of society in 
Lower Canada, may be stated as the system in force throughout the 
province, are — 

" The inhabitants of each county, city, town, and township, are 
constituted corporations, their organization proceeding wholly upon the 
elective principle ; and provision is made for the erection of new munici- 
palities, as the circumstances of the country require, by their separation 
from those already existing. A complete system is created for regulating 
the elections, and for defining the duties of the municipalities and their 
officers. Their powers may be generally stated to embrace everything of 
a local nature, including the opening and maintenance of highways, the 



72 

erection of school-houses, and the support of common and grammar schools ; 
the provision of accommodation for the administration of justice, gaols, 
&c, and the collection of rates for their support, as -well as for the payment 
of petty jurymen ; granting shop and tavern licences ; regulating and 
prohibiting the sale of spirituous liquors ; providing for the support of the 
poor; preventing the obstruction of streams; effecting drainage, both in 
the cities and county ; inspection of Aveights and measures ; enforcing the 
due observance of the Sabbath, and protection of public morals; esta- 
blishing and regulating ferries, harbours, markets, &c. ; abating nuisances; 
making regulations for and taking precautions against fires ; establishing 
gas and water works; making police regulations; levying rates upon all 
real and personal property, including incomes, for all purposes; and, for 
certain objects, borrowing money ; together with a great number of 
minor matters, essential for the good government of a community. 

"Li educational advantages we know of no country so young that 
exceeds us. By few of that class are we even equalled. Our common 
schools, established on the best principles, and taught by well-qualified 
and honourably-conducted teachers, oiler to our youth at large the means 
of qualifying themselves for the intelligent and efficient performance of the 
duties awaiting them in their present social positions, or aiding them, if 
such be their wish, to raise themselves to such as are higher, either with- 
out cost or at a charge little more than nominal. For the obtaining of a still 
better culture our grammar-schools, which are rapidly improving in 
character, offer all reasonable facilities ; while our colleges and univer- 
sities place professional training and instruction in the higher departments 
of learning and science within the reach of the possessors of moderate 
means, or such as, in the absence of these, may be disposed to maintain 
for a time a manly struggle for their own advancement. 

" From a valuable table (T) given in Dr. Ryerson's Report for 1861 
we extract the following particulars, illustrative of the educational pro- 
gress of Upper Canada, between 1842 and 1861. 

''The number of common schools was, in 1812, 1271; 1847, 2727; 
1852, 2992; 1857, 3631; L861, 391<>. The pupils attending these 
numbered in 1842, 65,978; 18 17, 124,829; 1802, 179,587; 1857, 
262,673; 18(1,316,287. Of Roman Catholic separate schools there are 
reported, for 1851, in which year they first appear in the returns, 16; 
1857, 100; 180 1, 109. There were, in 1845, 2860 common school 
teachers employed; in LS5<>, .'5476; in 1855, 3565; and in 1861, 4336. 
There was paid for salaries of teachers of common and separate schools, 
erection and repair of school-houses, libraries, and apparatus, in 1850, 
410,472 dollars; in 1855, 899,272 dollars; in 1861, 1,191,413. Of the 
schools thus reported there were 252 free in 1850; 1211 in 1855; and in 
1861, 2903. 

" In 1842, there are supposed to have been in existence 25 county 
grammar-schools. They numbered 32, in 1847; in 1852, 60; in 1857, 
72; in 1861,86. On these schools there were in attendance, in 1847, 
1000 pupils; in 1*52, 2643; in 1857, 4073; in 1861, 4766. The 
salaries paid the masters were, in 1855, the first year in which they are 
given separately, 10,255 dollars; in 1861, 71,034 dollars. 

" In LSI 2, we have reported, in addition to the above, 44 separate 
school* and academies (a supposed approximation); in 1847,96; in 1852, 



73 

181 ; in 1857, 276 ; in 1861, 337. The number of pupils in these institu- 
tions was, in 1847, 1831; in 1852, 5681; in 1857, 4073; in 1861, 4766. 

" We had in operation, in 1847, 6 colleges, with an attendance of 700 
students; in 1852, 8, with 751 students; in 1857, 12, with, 1335 
(approx.); 1861, 13, with 1373 (approx.). 

" The amounts reported as paid for educational purposes, in Upper 
Canada were, in 1851, 599,980 dollars; in 1856, 1,326,992 dollars; in 
1861, 1,476,107 dollars. 

" The following table, by J. G. Hodgins, LL.B., F.R.G.S., taken from 
1 Eighty Years 1 Progress,' &c. (p. 524), will give an idea of the educa- 
tional advance of Lower Canada between 1852 and 1861 : — 

n ., Assessments 

Pu P lls ' and Fees. 





Educational 


Year. 


Institutions 




of all kinds. 


1853 . 


. 2,352 


1854 . 


. 2,795 


1855 . 


. 2,868 


1856 . 


. 2,919 


1857 . 


. 2,986 


1858 . 


. 2,985 


1859 . 


. 3,199 


1860 . 


. 3,264 


1861 . 


. 3,345 



108,284 



165,848 dollars 



. 119,733 . . 238,032 „ 
. 127,058 . . 249,136 ,. 
. 143,141 . . 406,764 „ 
. 148,798 . . 424,208 „ 
. 156.872 . . 459,366 „ 
. 168,148 . . 498,436 „ 
. 172,155 . . 503,859 „ 
. 180,845 . . 526,219 „ 
As to religious privileges, we are also on the whole favourably situ- 
ated. The right of judging for ourselves in these matters is universally 
recognized ; and in the eye of the law we stand on an equality. The 
common denominations have all a place among us, so that* we may each, 
if such be our desire, have the opportunity of connexion, in the older 
portions of the country, at any -rate, with those among whom we may have 
been brought up, or who may be preferred by us. Fair allowance being 
made for difference in circumstances, the means of instruction will com- 
pare favourably, as to character, in the greater part of these bodies, with 
those enjoyed by them elsewhere. Speaking generally, the usual forms of 
Christian exertion — the Sabbath school, Bible class, Bible, Tract, and 
Missionary Societies, and kindred organizations — are found in healthful 
and vigorous operation among them. Notwithstanding their differing 
views, these denominations, moreover, dwell side by side in peace, treat 
each other with the courtesies common in other parts of the Christian 
world, and co-operate with one another for common objects, as much at 
least as is common in the lands whence they have come. The institutions 
for the relief of want and distress in its various forms, which usually follow 
in the wake of Christianity, have place, and are carrying on their good 
work in our midst. 

" 6. The union which it offers of the advantages characteristic both of the 
older and the newer states of society. 

" By selecting as their home the older parts of the country, those 
whose tastes would lead them to give the preference to the former may 
secure them in fair measure, provided they bring with them the necessary 
requisites in character, habits, and means ; while such as are wnlling to 
share the usual fortunes of the latter, may calculate on the chances open 
to them in ordinary circumstances. Growth, with its attendant advan- 



74 

tages, is in these chiefly a question of time and patience. At a much 
earlier age, and with much less of struggle than is requisite in older coun- 
tries, the diligent and economical may hope to place themselves in a posi- 
tion of independence. As a general thing, the means of comfortable sup- 
port is within the reach of the industrious, on conditions much less onerous 
than in these. 

" 7. Its relations and status. 

" The emigrant to Canada has, in the fact of its forming part of the 
British Empire, the guarantee of one of the most powerful nations of the 
earth for his protection against injury from without. In this respect, as 
in every other, the mother country has of course a right to expect that we 
shall make every reasonable effort to help ourselves. Should the necessity 
arise, this will be done ; and being done, there need be feared on her part 
no failure. 

" Against the risk of any movement from within, which would 
interfere injuriously with him, he has equal assurance in the hearty loyalty 
and affectionate attachment of our people to the parent state, which would 
make them contemplate the prospect of separation with dislike, rather than 
pleasure. 

" The connexion of Canada with Britain gives her also a standing which, 
in addition to its agreeableness, is fitted to render important aid in her 
development. It tends to operate thus by the feeling of self-respect which 
it inspires and fosters, by the honours which it holds out to the ambitious 
the hope of sharing, and by the examples that are felt to be constantly 
inviting imitation. 

11 Retaining, as he does, his connexion with the land of his birth, the 
native of the British Islands who chooses Canada as his home, is saved from 
much of the feeling of expatriation which he would experience elsewhere. 
He finds himself but half a stranger, if even that. He looks with a pride 
of which he was perhaps never previously conscious, on the old flag, as it 
floats over him; exults in his country's glories as his own; and finds a 
hymn in the National Anthem. 

u 8. The steadiness and satisfactoriness of its growth. 

" A few particulars are all our space will admit in illustration of this. 

" The population of United Canada numbered in the year 1800, 
240,000. It was in 1825, 581,920; by 1851 it had reached 1,842,265. 
In 1801 it amounted to 2,506,755. The advance in Upper Canada 
between 1825 and 1861 has been from 581,027 to 1,396,091— not much 
less than 800 per cent, in 3G years. 

" In 1831, the number of cultivated acres in the whole of Canada, 
Upper and Lower, was 2,884,345. It came up, in 1844, to 4,968,408 ; 
and in 1851, to 7,300.837. The returns for Lower Canada for 1861 
have not yet been published. In Upper Canada alone, 6,051,619 are 
reported for that year. 

" Upper Canada had in 1851, 99,906 occupiers of land. They num- 
bered in 1861, 131,983. It produced in 1851, 12,682,550 bushels of 
wheat; 11,391 ,807 of oats; 9,982,186 of potatoes; 3,110,118 of turnips; 
59,680 lbs. of flax or hemp; 3,669,874 lbs. of maple sugar. Its pro- 
duce of these articles was, in 1861 — wheat, 24,260,425 bushels; oats, 



7S 

21,220.874; potatoes, 15.325,020; turnips, 18,206,359; flax or hemp, 
1.225,934 lbs.; maple sugar, 6,37<>,0O5 lbs. The value of the live stock 
iu Upper Canada was, in 1861, as much as 53,227,480 dollars; its agri- 
cultural implements, 11,280,347 dollars; its farms, 295,102,315 dollars. 
A similar progress will, we doubt not, be shown in Lower Canada, when 
its agricultural statistics for the year in question appear. 

" In 1808, tne value of the entire trade of Canada was about 
8,400,000 dollars. The value reached in 1852— exports, 14,055,973 
dollars ; imports, 20,286.493 dollars ; total, 34,342,466 dollars. In 1861, 
its imports amounted to 36,014,195 dollars ; exports, 43,046,823 dollars ; 
total, 79,661.013 dollars. The value of the trade with the United States 
alone was, in the last of these years, 35,455,815 dollars ; the imports 
from that country reaching 21,069,388, and the imports to it 14,386,427 
dollars. 

" In 1S51. the net revenue yielded by the customs was 2,808,831 
dollars ; in 1861, 4,411,160 dollars. The value of books imported was, in 
1850, 243,580 dollars ; in 1861, 5.056,943 dollars. 

k ' On roads, navigation, and railroads, the province has expended as 
much as 60,000,000 dollars, over and above the interest in the latter 
of parties out of the country. There are in use at this moment between 
1800 and 1900 miles of railway; besides 3422 of electric telegraph, be- 
longing to the Montreal Telegraph Company, which had, in 1861, a 
capital stock of 400,000 dollars (to which it had advanced from 60,000 
dollars in 1847), employed 400 persons (35 in 1847), and conveyed 
300,000 messages; the number conveyed in 1847 having been 33,000. 

" Our post-offices have multiplied from 3, in 1766, to 69 in 1824; 
601 in 1850, and 1698 in 1860. The number of miles of established post 
roads was, in the first of these years, 170 ; in the second, 1992; in the 
third, 7595; and in the last, 14,202. The miles travelled were, in 1824, 
369; in 1766, 616; in 1851, 2,287,000 ; in 1860, 5,712,000. In 1852, 
3,700,000 letters were transmitted ; in 1860, 9,000,000. The expendi- 
ture of the Post-Office was, in the former of these years, 276,191 dollars, 
and its revenue 230,629 dollars; in the latter, its expenditure was 
534,681 dollars, and its revenue 658,451 dollars. One hundred and ten 
thousand dollars additional is paid per annum, by way of subsidy, to rail- 
roads, and 416,000 to steamships. 

" From the above it will be seen that our growth has been rapid, 
steady, and general — not coming by fits and starts, or confined in its 
sphere. 

"9. Its prospects. 

" It cannot fail, without fault on the part of its people, to continue 
growing, and to become strong, and prosperous, and influential ; for it has in 
itself, in its geographical position and in its relations, all the elements of 
greatness. But such failure is not to be anticipated, as self-respect, inte- 
rest, and duty unite in urging us to make the best of our position. The 
worst part of the struggle is over. To carry us to the height of any rea- 
sonable ambition, all that is necessary is perseverance for a moderate time 
in the self-denial and exertion of the past, with the careful avoidance of its 
errors, as far as they may be discovered. 

" The motive to throw in their lot with us, held out by such a state of 



76 

things to those who may be contemplating change, is manifest. To witness 
progress is pleasant; how much more to share in it, and to be made par- 
takers of the advantages it yields. 

" 10. The common feeling of such as have made trial of the country. 

" Few who have lived in it for any length of time, possessing the cha- 
racteristics and pursuing the course necessary to success, would willingly 
exchange it for the lands whence they came. Nothing is more common 
than for those who visit their old homes, after a few years' residence in it, 
to feel impatient till they get back. Numbers who have left it with the 
intention of remaining at home, have returned to it, unable to enjoy them- 
selves there. The freedom realized here from the burthensome restraints 
of older societies, and the social consideration which the deserving seldom 
fail to receive, help to explain the above state of feeling. In the fact of 
its existence the new comer, or the man contemplating coming, has fair 
promise and assurance that he will, in due time, feel himself one of us and 
at home among us. 

" The classes to which Canada will be found specially adapted are — 

11 1. Farmers, and parties accustomed to agricultural pursuits. 

" These may, if they bring moderate means with them, find cleared or 
uncleared farms, according to their taste, in most parts of the country, at 
prices moderate, though of course varying with quality of land, value of 
improvements, and location. Such as may be without the advantage of 
means may generally, if prepared to accept of reasonable wages, find em- 
ployment and comfortable homes among our formers. By satisfying them- 
selves for a time with these, they gain an acquaintance with the country, 
the modes of working best suited to it, the most desirable locations, prices 
of land, &c, which will save them much to which they would be in danger 
otherwise of being subjected, and help them to work at advantage to 
themselves. 

" Though not in an equal degree, parties previously unaccustomed to 
agriculture, if disposed to devote themselves to it, may secure these advan- 
tages by the pursuance of the same course. Numbers are found all through 
the country, with good farms and in comfortable circumstances, who had 
their knowledge to acquire after their arrival. If possessed of the physical 
requisites and the power of adapting themselves to new circumstances, none 
who make up their minds to persevere need despair, though, compared 
with the others, they must labour for a time under disadvantage. 

" 2. Mechanics, those especially of the more common descriptions. 

" These may generally find employment in one part or another, indeed 
in almost any part of the province, at fair wages and within a reasonable 
time. If well-behaved, industrious, and economical, they may hope to 
attain ultimately a good position both as to comfort and standing. Many 
of this class are to be met with in our cities, and even smaller towns and 
villages, living on their savings while yet comparatively young. Those of 
trades less common run, of course, more risk, though numbers even of 
these succeed in making themselves positions in the cities. 

"3. The possessors of spare means. 

" What they may be able and disposed to invest will afford this class 
much better returns here, without the adoption of any course involving 
wrong, than at home. They may also, if desirous of making themselves 



77 



useful, obtain (provided they possess the necessary requisites) abundant 
means of doing so in harmony with their habits and tastes. 

" The things needful to success in Canada, without which none can 
hope for it, and with which none need despair of it, are — 

" 1. Fair health, intelligence, and capacity for useful action. 

11 2. Good principles and correct honourable habits. 

" 3. Steady and patient perseverance. 

" 4. A cheerful and hopeful spirit. 

"5. 



The blessing of God." 



MONTREAL. 

The principal cities of Canada are Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, 
Kingston, Hamilton, and Ottawa. 

Montreal is situated at the foot of Royal Mountain, and contains 
the largest population of any city in British North America, 
amounting at the last census to over 75,000 inhabitants. She 
possesses numerous admirable hotels — such as the " St. Lawrence 



Hall" in Great St. James's Street, the 



Donegana 



in Notre 



Dame Street, the " Ottawa," Great St. James's Street ; and the 
" Montreal House," Custom House Square. The churches are 
generally beautiful specimens of architecture, and are numerous. 
The French cathedral is the grandest cathedral in America ; it is 
255£ feet in length, and 134^ feet in breadth; it has two towers, 
each of which has a noble elevation of 225 feet ; it is capable of 
accommodating between 8000 and 9000 people. There is also a uni- 
versity, several seminaries, schools, and convents. The quays and 
the market are the finest on the continent, being built of solid 
limestone. 

The trade of Montreal shows the following results : — The total 
exports for 1^62 were 8,765,594 dollars. The imports for the 
same period, 20,183,836 dollars. 

The amount of duties collected in 1862 was 2,490,557 dollars. 

Exports of Flour, Grain, and Produce from Montreal. 





SHIPMENTS IN 1861. 


SHIPMENTS IN 1862. 


ARTICLES. 


By 
River St. 
Lawrence. 


By 

Lachine 

Canal. 


Total. 


By 

River St. 
Lawrence. 


By 

Lachine 
Canal. 


Total. 


Flour barrels 

Wheat bushels 

Peas do. . . 

Barley do... 

Oats do. . . 

Oatmeal barrels 

Corn bushels 

Ashes barrels 

Butter kegs 

Pork barrels 

Lard do .. 

Beef. . . .tcs. and bbls. 
Tallow barrels 


605,492 

5,584,727 

1,529,136 

2,472 

276,375 

25,158 

1,477,114 

22,147 

49,546 

626 

178 

1,618 

112 


10,341 
17,044 

2,029 
105 

2,800 

' 244 

176 

2,677 

' ' 28 


615,833 

5,601,771 

1,531,165 

2,577 

279,175 

25,158 

1,477,114 

22,391 

49,722 

3,303 

178 

1,618 

140 


597,477 

6,500,796 

711,192 

373 

8,072 

4,040 

1,774,546 

23,135 

59,804 

3,225 

455 

222 

154 


28,593 

37,257 

1,626 

84 

16,716 

963 

70 

' 4,581 
17 

' ' 35 


626,070 

6,538,053 

712,818 

457 

24,788 

5,003 

1,774,546 

23,835 

59,804 

7,806 

472 

222 

189 



78 



Flour and Grain Trade of Montreal compared for the Three Years, 
1861 to 1863. 



ARTICLES. 



Wheat .... bushels 

Com do. . . 

Oats do. . . 

Peas do. .. 

Barley do... 

Rye do. .. 

Flour barrels. 

Meal, Oat and ) 
Corn . . . barrels f 



1861. 



1862. 



Receipts. Shipments. Receipts. Shipments 



7,829,684 5,900,100 18,529,622 16,945,815 
1,565,477 1,477,114 1,661,611 |l, 774,347 



122,399 ■ 287,877 
1,409,859 ,1,409,859 



132,749 

24,812 

1,081,160 

21,221 



2,457 



654,966 
32,015 



96,79L 

534,679 ! 
236,930 
82,665 : 
168,174 I 

2,426 



8,072 

727,277 
373 
200 

632,052 

4,039 



Receipts. Shipments. 



5,506,324 3,806,306 
855,328 i 635,387 
373,463 .3,001,766 



294,524 

32,278 

1,173,096 

1,789 



640,380 

170 

692,868 

9,353 



TORONTO. 

Toronto is situated on Lake Ontario. It is 333 miles from Mon- 
treal; from Quebec, 501 miles; from Hamilton, 38 miles; and from 
Niagara Falls, 81 miles. The population is 50,000. It possesses a 
Parliament House, market, two or three colleges, some splendid 
churches, an exchange, a lovely park, and is a large, thriving, and 
beautiful city, which is advancing in wealth, extent, and in the 
number of fine rows of shops and dwellings. Its lake and railway 
commerce is large, as the following table of exports for 1862-61-60 
will show : — 

Detailed Statement for 1862. 



DESTINATION. 


FLOUR, 


WHEAT. 


BARLEY. 


IT. AS. 




Barrels. 

10,672 

2,82 1 

450 

8,385 

70,S:i'i 

646 

12,404 


Bushels. 

273,383 

106,232 

8,025 

7,586 

483,977 

17,743 

36,329 


Bushels. 
219,147 


Bushels. 
7,385 




12,024 








O nr dcnsbur rr 




4,847 






21,570 






1,090 


Other Ports 




466 








Total 


106,219 
163,7:57 


933,275 
1,268,629 


219,117 
280,806 


47,382 
119,810 


Total, 1861 




Decrease 


57,518 


335,354 


61,059 


72,428 






Total, 1860 


178,510 


1,192,417 


234,144 


148,836 





QUEBEC. 

Quebec is one of the most famous fortified cities in the world, and 
has been called the Gibraltar of America, It is situated upon the left 
bank of the St. Lawrence, and contains a population of over 50,000. 
The city is divided into two sections, called the Upper and Lower 
Towns ; the Upper Town occupying the highest part of the 
promontory, which is surrounded by strong walls and other fortifi- 



79 

cations ; and the Lower Town being built around the base of Cape 
Diamond. The latter is the business quarter. 

Quebec is 317 miles from Boston via the Grand Trunk Railway, 
650 miles from New York, 168 miles from Montreal, and 340 
miles from the ocean. 

Quebec has numerous excellent hotels (the principal of which 
are " [Russell's " and the " Clarendon "), a Roman Catholic cathe- 
dral, an English Protestant cathedral, artillery barracks, exchange, 
post-office, several banks, &c. 

It possesses many attractions for the tourist, besides the citadel 
and the plains of Abraham, where Wolfe and Montcalm fought 
their great battle for the possession of Quebec, which resulted in a 
victory for the arms of England, though "Wolfe fell in the moment 
of triumph. 

Some of the most romantic falls in America are near Quebec. 
The Falls of St. Orme, only 24 miles below the city, are of great 
picturesque beauty. The Falls of the Chaudiere are 130 feet high. 

The Falls of Montmorenci, eight miles below Quebec, are 60 feet 
wide and 250 feet high. 

The effect of the view of these falls upon the beholder is most 
delightful. The river at some distance seems suspended in the air, 
in a sheet of billowy foam, and, contrasted as it is with the black, 
frowning abyss into which it falls, it is an object of the highest 
interest. The sheet of foam which first breaks over the ridge, is 
more and more divided as it plunges, and is dashed against the 
successive layers of rock, which it almost completely veils from view ; 
the spray becomes very delicate and abundant, from top to bottom, 
hanging over and revolving around the torrent, till it becomes 
lighter and more evanescent than the whitest fleecy clouds 
of summer ; than the finest attenuated web ; than the lightest 
gossamer; constituting the most airy and sumptuous drapery that 
can be imagined. Yet, like the drapery of some of the Grecian 
statues, which, while it veils, exhibits more forcibly the form 
beneath, this does not hide, but exalts the effect produced by this 
noble cataract. 

Those who witness the falls in the winter, see one fine feature 
added to the scene, although they may lose some others. The spray 
freezes, and forms a regular cone of 100 feet and upwards in height, 
standing immediately at the bottom of the cataract, like some huge 
giant of fabulous notoriety. 

Quebec is noted as the great lumber-port of Canada, and also as 
possessing fine ship-building yards. In 1861 there were built 53 
ships, with a total tonnage of 26,737 tons, and two steamers. In 
1861, 1277 ships, of 703,908 tons burthen. In 1861 there arrived 
at Quebec from sea, vessels : 1277; tonnage, 703,908 ; men, 19,339. 
Steamers: 67; tons, 71,894; men, 4335. The amount of timber 
shipped from Canada in 1861, was 30,000,000 cubic feet in 
the rough state ; and about 400,000,000 feet, board measure, of 
sawed lumber, the value of which was 9,572,645 dollars. 



80 

The shipments of timber from Quebec, for the year ending 
December 1, 1862, as compared with those of 1860 and 1861, were 
as follows : — 

1SC0 1861 1862 

Oak .... 1,485,400 ft. 1,725,160 ft. 1,463,680 ft. 

Elm .... 1,021,560 „ 1,269,329 „ 1,099 200 „ 

Ash .... 88,440 „ 96,560 „ 99,840 ,. 

Birch .... 462,160 „ 255,320 „ 165,480 „ 

Tamarac . . . 58,240 „ 50,240 „ 57,120 „ 

WhitePine,sq.| 18,252,600 „ 19,447,920,, 15,493,080,, 

and wavy . J ' " " ' ' 

EedPine . . 2,502,880 „ 2,855,240 „ 2,491,120 „ 

The stock on hand in 1862 exceeded by 9,000,000 that of the 
four previous years, being 19,000,000 instead of 10,000,000 feet. 

KINGSTON, HAMILTON, COBOTJRG, ETC. 

Kingston is a thriving city on the St. Lawrence River, and on 
the line of the Grand Trunk Railway. It is 341 miles from Quebec, 
173 miles from Montreal, and 180 miles from Toronto. It was 
founded in 1783, and possesses at the present time several Very 
strong fortifications. The population is about 18,000; the principal 
hotels are Kent's British American and Irons' Hotel. 

Hamilton is situated at the head of Lake Ontario. It is 539 
miles from Quebec ; from Montreal, 371 miles ; from Toronto, 38 
miles ; from Niagara, 43 miles. The population is 20,000. 

Cobourg has a population of 5000. It is 70 miles from Toronto, 
and 90 miles from Kingston. 

Prescott, St. Catherine, and Pcterboro', arc all thriving towns. 



THE FARMING INTEREST OF CANADA. 

The official census taken in January, 1861, furnishes reliable 
data for arriving at the agricultural condition of the country, and 
an official report from the Bureau of Agriculture, issued in 1863, 
provides estimates of two years later date. From these returns it 
appears that the number of persons in actual occupation of land in 
Upper Canada, in the year 1860, Mas not less than 131,983, and in 
Lower Canada 105,671. The quantity of land held was as follows: — 

Persons holding in 

U. Canada. L. Canada. 

10 acres and under .... 4,424 . 6,822 

10 acres to 20 2,675 . 3,186 

20 acres to 50 26,630 . 20,074 

50 acres to 100 64,891 . 44,041 

100 acres to 200 28,336 . 24,739 

Above 200 acres .... 5,027 . 6,809 

Total occupiers .... 131,983 . 105,671 



si 

It thus appears that there were, three years ago, not fewer than 
237,654 persons in Canada who cultivate their own land ; and if 
the army of farm-servants, choppers, carpenters, blacksmiths, 
waggon-makers, harness-makers, &c, directly employed on farm- 
work, be added, it will be seen at once how vast a proportion of 
the half million of male adults in Canada are directly employed in 
the cultivation of the soil. 

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS AND TABLES. 

Then as to the capital employed. The estimated cash value of 
the farms and farming implements was, in January, 1861, as 
follows : — 

In Upper Canada .... 306,442,662 dollars. 

In Lower Canada .... 178,870,271 „ 

Total value 485,312,933 dollars. 

And this enormous sum does not include the live stock and 
crops on hand. The last census showed the live stock to have been 
then as follows : — 

1". Canada L. Canada. 

Milch cows, Xo. of head . . . 451,640 328,370 

Oxen and steers 99.605 200.991 

Young cattle 464,083 287,611 

Horses, of all kinds 377,681 248.515 

Sheep 1,170,225 682,829 

Pigs 776,001 286,400 

At present prices, these cannot be valued at much under 
100,000,000 dollars; and the amazing rapidity with which the live 
stock of the country is increasing in number and value can readily 
be seen by a comparison of the census returns of 1851 and 1861. 

But perhaps a more satisfactory idea of the agricultural industry 
of the province can be gained from a statement of the annual pro- 
duct of our farms. In the year 1860 the crop was as follows : — 

U. Canada. L. Canada. Total. 

AVheat . . bushels, 24,620,425 2,654,354 27,274,779 

Barlev . . „ 2.821.962 2,281,674 5,103,636 

Eve \ . . „ 973,181 844,192 1,817,373 

Peas ... „ 9,601,396 2,648,777 12,250,173 

Oats ... „ 21.220.874 17.551.296 38,772,170 

Buckwheat . ., 1.248,637 1.250,025 2,498,662 

Indian corn . „ 2,256.290 334,861 2,591,151 

Potatoes . . „ 15.325,920 12,770,471 28,096,391 

Turnips . . „ 18,206.959 892,434 19,099,393 

Man. wurzel „ 546,971 207.256 754,227 

Carrots . . „ 1.905.598 293.067 2,198,665 

Beans. . . „ 49,143 21,384 70,527 

G 



Clover and Timothy U. Canada. L. Canada. Total. 

seeds . bushels, 61,818 33,954 95,772 

Hay . . . tons, 861,844 689,977 1,551,821 

Hops. . . „ 247,052 53,387 300,439 

Maple sugar lbs., 6,970,605 9,325,147 16,295,752 

Cider. . . gallons. 1,567,831 21,011 1,588,842 

Wool . . lbs., 3,659,766 1,967,388 5,627,154 

Butter . . „ 26,828,264 15,906,949 42,735,213 

Cheese . . „ 2,687,172 686,297 3,373,469 

FlaxandHemp „ 1,225,934 975,827 2,201,761 

Tobacco . . „ 777,426 ... ... 

The total value of these products of the farm in 1860 was close 
upon 100,000,000 dollars ! And if we add the increase of that 
same year on the live stock, the improvements made on old farms, 
and the new lands brought into cultivation, a pretty good estimate 
may be formed of the highly satisfactory condition of the farming 
interest in Canada. 

And then the work is but begun. The total number of acres 
that have passed from the Government into private hands is — 

In Upper Canada 13,354,907 

In Lower Canada 10,375,418 

Total acres sold 23,730,325 

Of this there are in cultivation, acres: — 

In Upper Canada . . . .6,051,619 
In Lower Canada .... -1,804,235 

10,8.55,85-1 

Leaving yet wild 12,874,471 

Imports. — The total value of all the imports into Canada for 
1862 was 48,600,633 dollars :— From Great Britain, 21,179,312 
dollars; British Colonics, North America, 535*469 dollars; West 
Indies, 38,831 dollars; United States, 25,173,1.07 dollars; other 
countries, l,673,844dols. Amount of duty, 4,652,748 dols. 73 cents. 

Exports* — Produce of the mine, 702,906 dollars ; fisheries, 
703,896 dollars ; forest, 9,482,897 dollars ; animals and their pro- 
ducts, 3,923,590 dollars; agricultural products, 15.041,002 dollars; 
manufactures, 115,327 dollars ; coin and bullion, 178,997 dollars ; 
other articles, 242,002 dollars; ships built at Quebec, 988,428 
dollars. Total value, 31,679,045 dollars; of which 15,224,417 
dollars went to Great Britain, and 826,871 dollars to British North 
America; to the West Indies, 13,775 dollars; United States, 
15,063,730 dollars; to foreign countries, 550,252 dollars. 

Canals. — The canals of Canada have been built at an expense 
of 20,000,000 dollars. They consist of the Welland Canal, a little 
over 50 miles in length, running around the Falls of Niagara, and 
connecting Lake Eric with Lake Ontario. On the river St. Law- 
rence there are the Williamsburg, the Cornwall, the Beauharnais, 



83 



and the Lachine Canals, 40 — 50 miles in length, and costing, with 
lock-crates and improvements, 8,550,518 dollars 35 cents. On 
the Richelieu River are the Chambly Canal, and St. Ours Lock and 
Dam, 11—50 miles in length, and costing 543,212 dollars 69 cents. 
On the Ottawa River, the St. Ann's Lock and Dam, and Chats 
Canal, cost 484,988 dollars 55 cents. The Carillon, Chute a 
Blondeau, and Granville Canal, passing the Long Saut of the 
Ottawa River, 8— 84 miles; 1,011,904 dollars. The Rideau Canal, 
connecting Ottawa with Kingston, 126—25 miles ; 4,380,000 
dollars. These canals enable vessels to enter to and from the lakes. 



CARRYING TRADE AND NAVIGATION OF THE PROVINCIAL CANALS 

OF CANADA. 

No. 1. — Summary Statement of the Business of the Wetland, St. Lawrence, Chambly, Burlington, 
Ottawa and Rideau Canals, St. Ours and St. Ann's Locks, shelving the Total Quantity of 
each description of Property passed through and on the same, and the Amount of Tolls 
collected, during the year 1862. 





Welland Canal. 


St. Lawrence 
Canal. 


Chambly Canal 
& St. Ours Lock 


Burlington 
Bay Canal. 


St. Ann's Lock. 


Ottawa and 
Rideau Canals. 




Tons. 


Tolls. 


Tons. 


Tolls. 


Tons. 


Tolls. 


Tons. 


Tolls. 


Tons. 


Tolls. 


Tons. 


Tolls. 


Vessels, all kinds. 
Passengers (No). 
ProduceofForest. 

Farm Stock 

Animal Produce.. 
Vegetable Food . . 
Asricult. Prodts.. 

Manufactures 

Merchandise 


1476,842 

5,087 

238,213 

134 

9,116 

721,149 

6,732 

171,977 

96,453 


$ 

32,823 

401 

26,385 

33 

2,367 

163,918 

1,662 

34,746 

21,501 


1049,230 

28,214 

381,305 

1,268 

7,526 

421,265 

17,452 

75,022 

60,556 


$ 
13,427 

1,468 

13,172 

174 

1,470 
82,957 

2,937 
12,052 
10,528 


154,552 

1,535 

87,296 

232 

438 

29,770 

2,662 

4,876 

23,017 


$ 

1,764 

25 

5,731 

8 

55 

2,813 

172 

504 

1,984 


286,718 

47J46-7 
103 

3,142 
91,798 

5,419 
20,528 
23,320 


S 
1,751 

3,314 
9 
1,633 
15,874 
842 
5,357 
8,665 


241,729 

17,365 

212,268 

246 

728 

4,186 

|228 

5,605 

4,835 


$ 

3,021 

173 

3,009 

12 

36 

209 

11 

251 

212 


373,325 

1,018 

316,506 

2 

903 

4,803 

297 

8,665 

6,204 


S 
5,815 
28 
9,593 

"93 

499 

32 

842 

918 



No. 2. — Statement shoicing the Number, National Character, and Tonnage {computed from 
aggregate number of Trips made during the Season of Navigation) of Vessels which passed on 
and through the Welland, St. Laiorence, Chambly, Burlington Bay, Rideau and Ottawa 
Canals, St. Ours and St. Ann's Locks, during the year 1862, and amount of Tolls collected 
thereon. 





From Canadian 
to Canad. Ports 


From Canad. 
to Am. Ports. 


From Amer 
to Can. Ports 


From Amer. 
to Am. Ports. 


Total. 


Amount 

of Tolls 

on Vessels 




No. 


Tons. 


No. 


Tons. 


No. 


Tons. 


No. 


Tons. 


No. 


Tons. 


Canadian Vessels and 

Steamers. 

Welland 


1,537 
10,364 
550 
1,164 
3,707 
6,086 


216,915 
994,077 
24,167 
180,798 
220,675 
370,953 


853 
237 
654 
385 
207 


138,340 
20,968 
46,840 
53,198 
15,668 


932 
103 
657 

286 

"*2 


151,297 
13,588 
44,032 
40,157 

"iio 


33 


5,703 


3,355 


511.355 


$ ct. 
7,363 25 




10,704 1028.663 


13,27187 


Chambly and St. Ours Lock 


1,861 
1,835 
3,914 
6,088 


115,039 
274,153 
236,343 
371,063 


1,277 52 
1,677 50 
2,954 30 
5,78168 




Pvideau and Ottawa 


Total Canadian Vessels 


23,408 


2006,685 


2,336 


275,014 


1,980 


249,184 


33 


5,703 


27,757 


2536,586 


$32,326 12 


American Vessels and 

Steamers. 

Welland. 


34 

10 
"29 


5,477 

' ' 358 
963 

' 1,859 


558 
122 
312 

44 


83,449 
8,227 

18,398 
6,575 


614 
147 
330 
29 
43 
6 


99,660 

10,297 

20,211 

5,027 

2,693 

403 


2,718 

31 

8 

"43 


776,901 

2,073 

546 

2',693 


3,924 

300 

657 

83 

86 

35 


965,487! 
20,597| 
39,513: 
12,565 

5,386! 

2,262 


25,459 78 




155 96 


Chambly and St. Ours Lock 


486 74 
74 '<0 


St. Ann's Lock 

Rideau and Ottawa 


67 33 
33 93 


Total American Vessels . . . 


80 


8,657 


1,036 


116,649 


1,169 


138,291 


2,800 


782,213 


5,085 


1045,810 


$26,277 74 


Grand Tot. : Canad. k Amer. 


23,488 


2015,342 


3,372 


391,663 


3,149 


387,475 


2,833 


787,916 


32,842 


3582,396 

1 


$58,603 M 



84 

No. 3. — An Account of the Gross and Net Revenue from all sources of the 
Provincial Canals of Canada, for the year 18G2. 
Gross Amount of — Dols. 

Tolls, as per Tariff 497,302 96 

"Welland Canal, Damages and Fines, 593 dollars; Rents, 

7,363 dollars, 90 cents 7,956 90 

St. Lawrence Canal, Damages and Fines, 1,895 dollars, 17 

cents; Eents, 12,493 dollars, 55 cents 14,388 72 

Storage and Winterage, 4,836 dollars, 91 cents; Wharfage, 

3,075 dollars, 49 cents 7,912 40 

Chambly Canal Eents 20 00 

Ottawa and Eideau Canal, Winterage 2590 

Gross Eevenue from all sources 527,606 ^ 

Less — Charges for — 
Collectors' Salaries, Lock Tenders, &c. . . . 125,017 35 
Eepairs and other Incidental Expenses . . . 73,980 63 
Tolls refunded and not collected as per Order 

in Council, May, 1860 288,815 55 

482,813 53 

Net Eevenue, all Incidental Expenses deducted . . 44,793 35 






85 



- IIAPTEE VIII. 

BAY TERRITORY. 

The Hudson's Bay Company : its Charter, its Profits, its Furs — The Fur Trade : 
its Extent and Value — The Territory : its Government, its Physical Features, 
its Plains, Lakes, and Rivers — The Saskatchewan Valley — Testimony of Cap- 
tain Blakiston, Captain Palisser, Sir George Simpson, Monsieur Bourgeau, 
Father De Smet, Professor Hind, and others in reference to its Agricultural 
Resources — The Railway Route — Its Minerals, Grass, Fish, Animals, Birds, 
Roots, Berries, &c. — The Red River Settlement — American Trade — Homes for 
the Emigrant — The Company's Lands in the Market — Crossing the Rocky 
Mountains — Progress of the West — The Future Policy of the Hudson's Bay 
Company. 

THE CHARTER. 

The Hudson's Bay Company was originally established in the year 
1670, by a royal charter in the reign of Charles II., and was denned 
to include all territories within the limits watered by rivers falling 
into Hudson's Bay ; " together with all the lands and territories 
upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, bays, lakes, 
rivers, creeks, and sounds aforesaid, that are not already actually 
possessed by the subjects of any other Christian prince or state, with 
the fishing of all sorts of fish, whales, sturgeons, and all other royal 
fishes in the seas, bays, inlets, and rivers within the premises, and 
the fish therein taken, together with the royalty of the sea upon the 
coasts within the limits aforesaid, and all mines royal, as well dis- 
covered as not discovered, of gold, silver, gems, and precious stones, 
to be found or discovered within the territories, limits, and places 
aforesaid ; and that the same land be from henceforth reckoned and 
reputed as one of our plantations or colonies in America called 
Rupert's Land." 

The great object in view was not, however, the fisheries, but the 
fur-bearing animals which swarmed through all the plains to the 
Rocky Mountains. 

The grant, however, of King Charles gave the Company a 
complete and arbitrary control, over a country described in the 3rd 
clause as follows : — " And furthermore, we do grant unto the said 
Governor and Company, and their successors, that they and their 
successors, and their factors, servants, and agents, for them and on 
their behalf, and not otherwise, shall for ever hereafter have, use, 
and enjoy, not only the whole, entire, and only trade and traffic, and 
the whole entire, and only liberty, use, and privilege of trading and 
trafficking to and from the territory, limits, and places aforesaid, 
but also the whole and entire trade and traffic to and from all havens, 
bays, creeks, rivers, lakes, and seas, into w T hich they shall find en- 



86 

trance or passage by water or land out of the territories, limits, or 
places aforesaid ; and to and with all the nations and people in- 
habiting, or which shall inhabit, within the territories, limits, and 
places aforesaid ; and to and with all other nations inhabiting any 
of the coasts adjacent to the said territories, limits, and places afore- 
said ; and to and with all other nations inhabiting any of the coasts 
adjacent to the said territories, limits, and places which are not 
already possessed as aforesaid, or whereof the sole liberty, or 
privilege, or traffic is not yet granted to any other of our 
subjects." 

Armed with such complete power, it is not to be supposed that 
any body of men who had obtained fairly the right to govern such 
a territory would easily forego that right. For nearly two centuries 
their agents have continued to extend their influence : and, though 
it is claimed they have misrepresented its natural advantages as a 
basis for future colonies, that they have governed arbitrarily and 
selfishly, and that they have assumed a despotic sway from the coast 
of Labrador to the Pacific, we must certainly do them the credit to 
say that, were it not for the judicious manner in which they have 
conducted their affairs, we should not now hold such a claim on 
this extensive territory. During all that period of time between 
1670 to the present, we perceive that, while the United States has 
been at continual war with the Indians as their pioneers advanced 
westward, the few inhabitants which have occupied the trading 
posts, scattered hundreds of miles apart, have conducted their fur 
operations with the Indians with hardly a cessation of peaceful rela- 
tionship. Year after year the products have increased in value, 
and though, during the time of long-continued warfare between the 
French and the English, they lost in the attacks upon their esta- 
blishments over £ I ()(),()()(), yet they were enabled to pay a dividend 
in 1684 of .50 per cent. ; in 1688, another dividend of 50 per cent. ; 
in 1689, £5 per cent.; between 1690 and 1800, a period of 110 
years, they paid between (>0 and 70 per cent, per annum. 

For some years after this they had a serious difficulty, and 
found a dangerous opponent and formidable rival in the North- 
West Company ; but after several years' warfare they absorbed 
that company by consolidation. In 1837 they paid a dividend of 
5 per pent. 1 , with a bonus of 6 per cent. In 1849, 10 per cent. In 
1850, SO per cent. In 1856 the dividend was 10 percent.; but 
268 proprietors had paid f3. l 3() to !M0 per cent, for their stock. 

VARIETY, NUMBER, AND VALUE OF FURS. 

The value of the furs alone which are purchased, and their 
number, can only be properly conveyed by a statistical table. 

From September, 1856, to September, 1857 (considered a bad 
year), the total number of furs, excluding buffalo robes, was as 
follows : — 



87 



Hudson 



Muskrat . . . 
Reaver . . . 
Otter .... 
Fisher . . . 
Silver fox . . 
Cross fox . . 
Red fox . . . 
White fox . . 
Kittfox . . . 
Marten . . . 
Mink .... 
Sea otter . . . 
Lynx .... 
Black bear . . 
Brown bear . . 
Grey white bear 
Racoon . . . 
Wolf . . . . 
Wolverin . . 
Skunk . . . 
Wild cat 



*s Bay Company. 


United States 


303,131 . . 


. 862,330 


90,604 . 


8,594 


11,573 . 


4,368 


5,561 . . 


4,025 


7,071 . 


477 


3,143 . 


1,608 


10,498 . 


. 44,558 


4,940 . 


, . 1,657 


5,776 . 


5,866 


170,956 . 


. 15,399 


45,091 . 


. 78,510 


188 . 


. ; 167 


23,341 . 


. . 824 


7,483 . 


3,313 


942 . 


. . 116 


769 . 


. . 476,022 


1,894 . 


. . 41 


9,831 . 


. . 25 


916 . 


! . 209 


7,740 . 


. . 6,973 


184 . 


. . 6,673 



It will be perceived that the majority of all the valuable furs 
came from Hudson's Bay Territory, by the following table of valua- 
tion : — Price of beaver, 9s. 3d. each ; badger, Is. 8d. ; bear, 34s. ; 
fisher, 28s. 8d. ; silver fox, 153s. 5d. ; cross fox, 46s. 2d. ; red fox, 
lis.; lynx and cat, 10s. 8d. ; marten, 13s. lid. ; mink, 4s. 3d.; 
musquash, llfd. ; otter, 7s. 9d. ; sea otter, 373s. 7d. ; racoon, 
2s. 7d.; seal hair, 3s. lid.; wolf, 5s. 8d. ; wolverin, 12s. 6d. 

Furs have increased greatly in their value since that time, the 
silver fox being worth £50 per skin at the present period. 

Captain Blakiston, R.E., who accompanied the Palisser Expedi- 
tion, says, in respect to buffalo, " Having taken some trouble to 
obtain the most reliable data in respect of the numbers annually 
killed, in which I have been aided by gentlemen in the fur trade, 
I consider, since, 1842, when the Hudson's Bay Company first com- 
menced to trade to any great extent in robes, there have been no 
less than 145,000 buffalo annually killed in British Territory ; while 
on the great prairies on the American side, where the trade has 
been carried on to a far greater extent, the amount annually slaugh- 
tered at the early part of the period mentioned, was upwards of 
1,000,000. In 1855, on the British side alone, there were 20,000 
robes and skins received at York Factory on Hudson's Bay, 
which, making all allowances, would give about 230,000 slaugh- 
tered the previous year. This, in a civilized country, allowing 2 lbs. 
per head per diem — a very liberal allowance — would have served 
to sustain a population of 250,000, while probably 30,000 only pro- 
fited by the slaughter." 



88 

The Commissioner of Statistics for the United States for 1860, 
says, " The entire imports of the Company for the supply of the 
trading posts east of the Rocky Mountains, and mainly tributary to 
Minnesota, was stated by Sir George Simpson, in 1857, at 200.000 
dollars, 100,000 dollars going to the supply of the Indians west of 
the Rocky Mountains.' 9 According to an English authority, the 
gross value of the furs and skins exported to England, in return for 
the annual outfit, varies from 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 dollars. At 
the half-yearly sale in April, 1857, held in London, the proceeds 
of the trade were stated to be 1,150,000 dollars. In March, 1853, 
the trade sales amounted to nearly 2,500,000 dollars. They sold 
then 80,000 buffalo robes at 12 dollars each. The average annual 
export may be fairly stated, then, at 1,500,000 dollars, showing a 
return of 500 per cent, on the imports. One million dollars of this 
is the product of Rupert's Land having its outlet through Minne- 
sota. 

In 1864, the sales of Hudson Bay furs amounted to over 
£200,000, and for 1865 it was computed they would reach 
£240,000. 

GOVERNMENT OF HUDSON'S BAY. 

Since the new change of government, the Hudson's Bay Com- 
pany's power is restricted to Rupert's Land, or east of the Rocky 
Mountains ; but previous to the new organization, the extent of 
territory controlled by them exceeded 4,500,000 square miles, and 
extended into the United States and Russian America. The whole 
territory was divided into five departments, in each of which were 
established certain trading posts : — 

Departments. Deputs. No. of Posts. 

1 . Northern . . York Factory, Hudson's Bay . . 69 

2. Southern . . Moose Factory 42 

o. Montreal . . Lachinc 22 

4. Oregon . . Fort Vancouver, W.T. . . . 16 

5. Western . . Victoria, V.I 15 

The northern department is under the command of a chief 
pastor, and he is responsible for the districts into which his depart- 
ment is divided. The trading posts are separated hundreds of miles 
apart, and the furs collected here are transported for thousands of 
miles in barges and canoes, through the lakes and rivers of the 
Arctic water system, and down the Saskatchewan to Lake Winni- 
peg, whence, till recently, they have been carried through the pre- 
cipitous rivers which debouch into Hudson's Bay at Fort York. 

At Norway House, at the north end of Lake Winnipeg, early 
in the summer, a meeting takes place between the chief commis- 
sioners and the governor of the territories ; the number and value 
of the furs are considered ; the several proportions of earnings are 
allotted ; various promotions are made ; the various supplies are 



80 

given out, such as blankets, materials for and articles of wearing- 
apparel of woollen and cotton manufacture ; hardware and earthen- 
ware, beads, ribbons, pipes, fire-steels, and other miscellaneous 
articles ; also tea, coffee, sugar, rice, raisins, wine, tobacco, salt, 
flour, gunpowder, shot, ball, fire-arms, <&c. 

Having perfected their business, and spent a few days in the 
mutual enjoyment of relating their experiences, they set out upon 
their return vosra^es to their homes. Of course, their arrival is 
looked for with much anxiety ; for they bring a whole year's news 
from the Old World. Then the various presents are carefully 
examined and mutually prized ; and in the evening, the valley or 
the plain echoes with merriment, as the men and maidens dance, 
sing, and regale on the festive occasion. 

Then come the preparations for winter. Fisheries are estab- 
lished, the various parties scatter to their posts, the Indians receive 
advances of supplies for the coming furs, boats are mended, tools 
and guns put in order, pemmican from buffalo meat is made, and 
fish are dried and salted. In the spring the hunting commences — 
furs are pressed and packed ; and when the " up river " boat 
arrives, they are prepared to start for the annual meeting again. 

The total number in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company 
is 3000, including agents, voyageurs, traders, and servants, and 
about 100,000 Indian hunters. 



PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Captain Blakiston, R.E., in speaking of the physical features 
of the interior of British North America, divides them as follows : — 
u \, The northern or Arctic basin. 2, Hudson's Bay. 3, The 
Central Plains. 4, The Rocky Mountains. 5, The Pacific slope 
and (if Canada were included it would be a sixth) the St. Lawrence 
basin." 

The northern or Arctic basin " extends from the northern part 
of Canada East, skirting the upper great lakes, curving round to 
Lake Winnipeg, and thence taking a north-easterly direction, 
reaching the Arctic Sea in the region between the Coppermine and 
Back's Great Fish River. This great belt extends for 150 to 200 
miles in width, and is extremely rocky — in fact, the whole region is 
most inhospitable except for the hunter and the fur trapper." 

Hudson's Bay. — The region around Hudson's Bay is generally 
of much the same character as the wooded portion of the Arctic 
regions, and the extent to which the country is annually submerged 
is described as almost incredible. The Arctic regions and central 
plains are alike cheerless, unfit for pasturage, and worthless for 
agriculture. 

Between the Rocky Mountains, Lake Winnipeg, the Lake of 
the Woods, and the 49th parallel, we have a country entirely 
distinct from the rest of Rupert's Land. It is variously denominated 



90 

the " Valley of the Saskatchewan," the "Basin of Winnipeg," and 
the " High Central Plains." This district contains about 380,000 
square miles, with a width of T50 miles. 

A prominent feature in the commercial physics of this north- 
western country is the extent of its navigable water-line, which 
may be taken as the natural exponent of the commercial value of 
its resources. 

In the following table we give what is known of the continuous 
distances capable of steamboat navigation on the rivers which inter- 
lock in Lake Winnipeg. 

Navigable Water-Line and Shore-Line of the Basin 
of the Winnipeg. 

„ T . . - . Water-Line. Shore-Line. 

Red River from Breckinridge — Miles. Miles. 

Mouth of Sioux Wood to Lake Winnipeg 531 . 1062 

Tributaries of Red River — 

Red Lake River, Minnesota 100 . 200 

Assiniboine, British Territory — 

Navigation uncertain 200 . 400 

Lake Winnipeg 864 . 782 

Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegoos . . . 220 . 660 

Saskatchewan River — 

From Lake Winnipeg to junction. . . . 422 . 844 

North Branch to Edmonton 540 . 1080 

South Branch to Chesterfield House . . 480 . 960 



Total 2757 . 5988 

Captain Blakiston says — " Taking cither branch of the Sas- 
katchewan River, it is navigable for boats from Lake Winnipeg to 
near the base of the Rocky Mountains, a distance of 1200 miles. I 
am glad to say I was fortunate enough to travel on it from its mouth 
to Fort Edmonton, 1000 miles up, at a time of year when I saw the 
water at its lowest." 

THE FERTILE BELT. 

The valley of the Saskatchewan contains an extended belt of 
land, called the " Fertile Belt," which is unsurpassed for the 
richness of its soil and its adaptability for agricultural purposes. 
The explorations of Simpson, Hind, Palisser, Hector, Sullivan, 
and Blakiston, all serve to prove that within British Territory the 
most fertile soil west of the Mississippi exists — and that so vast, so 
rich is this great valley that it is capable of subsisting 20,000,000 
people. 

TESTIMONY OF PALISSER. 

Captain Palisser describes the region drained by the Saskat- 
chewan in the following words : — " The extent of surface drained 
by the Saskatchewan, and other tributaries to Lake Winnipeg, 






91 

which we had an opportunity of examining, amounts in round 
numbers to 150,000 square miles. This region is bounded 
to the north by what is known as the ' strong woods,' or 
the southern limit of the great circum-Arctic zone of forest 
which occupies these latitudes in the northern hemisphere. 
This line, which is indicated in the map, sweeps to the north- 
west from the shore of Lake Winnipeg, and reaches its most 
northerly limit about 54° 80' N. and longitude 119° W., from 
whence it again passes to south-west, meeting the Rocky Mountains 
in latitude 51° N., longitude 115° W. Between this line of the 
f strong woods ' and the northern limit of the true prairie country, 
there is a belt of land varying in width, which at one period must 
have been covered by an extension of the northern forests, but 
which has been gradually cleared by successive fires. 

" It is now a partially wooded country, abounding in lakes and 
rich natural pasturage, in some parts rivalling the finest park 
scenery of our own country. Throughout this region of country 
the climate seems to preserve the same character, although it passes 
through very different latitudes, its form being doubtless determined 
by the curves of the isothermal line. Its superficial extent embraces 
about 65,000 square miles, or 40,000,000 acres, of which more 
than one -third may be considered as at once available for the 
purposes of the agriculturist. Its elevation increases from 700 to 
4000 feet as we approach the Rocky Mountains ; consequently, it 
is not equally adapted throughout to the cultivation of any one 
crop ; nevertheless, at Tort Edmonton, which has an altitude of 
3000 feet, even wheat is sometimes cultivated with success." 



TESTIMONY OF M. BOURGEAU. 

Mons. E. Bourgeau, who accompanied Palisser in his explora- 
tions, addressed the following remarks to Sir William Hooker, in 
reference to Hudson's Bay Territory : — " But it remains for me to 
call the attention of the English Government to the advantage 
there would be in establishing agricultural districts in the vast 
plains of Rupert's Land, and particularly in the Saskatchewan, in 
the neighbourhood of Fort Carlton. This district is much more 
adapted to the culture of staple crops of temperate climates, wheat, 
rye, barley, oats, &c, than one would have been inclined to believe 
from this high latitude. In effect, the few attempts at cereal 
culture already made in the vicinity of the Hudson's Bay Com- 
pany's posts demonstrate by their success how easy it would be to 
obtain products sufficiently abundant largely to remunerate the 
efforts of the agriculturist. There, in order to put the land under 
cultivation, it would be necessary only to till the better portions of 
the soil. The prairies offer natural pasturage as favourable for the 
maintenance of numerous herds as if they had been artificially 
created. The construction of houses for habitation and for 



92 

pioneer development would involve but little expense, because 
in many parts of the country, independent of wood, one would 
find fitting stones for building purposes, and in others clay 
to make bricks. In the latter district extend rich and vast prairies, 
interspersed with wood and forests, where thickwood plants furnish 
excellent pasturage for domestic animals. The vetches found here 
are as fitting for the nourishment of cattle as the clover of European 
pasturage. The abundance of buffaloes, and the facility with 
which the herds of horses and oxen increase, demonstrate that it 
would be enough to shelter animals in winter, and to feed them in 
the shelters with hay collected in advance. The harvest could in 
general be commenced by the end of August or the first week in 
September, which is a season in which the temperature is suffi- 
ciently high and rain is rare. 

" In the gardens of the Hudson's Bay Company's posts — but more 
particularly in those of the different missions, succulent vegetables 
of the leguminous family, such as beans, peans, and French beans, 
have been successfully cultivated ; also cabbages, turnips, carrots, 
rhubarb, and currants. Different species of gooseberries, with 
edible fruits, as well as raspberries, grow wild here." 

REPORT OF THE NEW YORTv CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 

It was supposed that the valleys of the Mississippi and the St. 
Lawrence Rivers exhausted the northern and central areas which 
are available for agriculture. A report to the New York Chamber 
of Commerce very soon corrected the erroneous impression. " There 
is in the heart of North America," said the report, " a distinct sub- 
division, of which Lake Winnipeg may be regarded as the centre. 
This subdivision, like the valley of the Mississippi, is distinguished 
for the fertility of its soil, and for the extent and gentle slope of its 
great plains, watered by rivers of great length, and admirably 
adapted for steam navigation. It has a climate not exceeding in 
severity that of many portions of Canada and the Eastern States. It 
will, in all respects, compare favourably with some of the most 
densely peopled portions of the continent of Europe. In other 
words, it is admirably adapted to become the seat of a numerous, 
hardy, and prosperous community. It has an area equal to eight 
or ten first-class American States. Its great river, the Saskatche- 
wan, carries a navigable water-line to the very base of the Rocky 
Mountains. It is not at all improbable that the valley of this river 
may vet offer the best route for a railroad to the Pacific. The 
navigable waters of this great subdivision interlock with those of the 
Mississippi." 

The Red River of the North, in connexion with Lake Winnipeg, 
into which it falls, forms a navigable water-line, extending directly 
north and south 800 miles. The Red River is one of the best 
adapted to the use of steam in the world, and waters one of the finest 



93 

regions on the continent. Between the highest point at which it 
is navigable, and St. Paul, on the Mississippi, a railroad is in pro- 
cess of construction; and when this road is completed, another 
grand division of the continent, comprising 000,000 square miles, 
will be open to settlement. 

TESTIMONY OF SIR GEORGE SIMPSON. 

Sir George Simpson, speaking of the land which is drained by 
the Bed Deer and Swan Rivers, which drain a country of rare 
beauty and fertility, and which lies west of Lake Winnipeg, draws 
the following glowing picture : — 

" In this part of the country we saw many sorts of birds, geese, 
loons, pelicans, ducks, cranes, two kinds of snipe, hawks, owls, and 
gulls ; but they were all so remarkably shy, that we were constrained 
to admire them from a distance. In the afternoon we traversed a 
beautiful country with lofty hills and long valleys, full of sylvan 
lakes ; while the bright green of the surface, as far as the eye could 
reach, assumed a foreign tinge, under an uninterrupted profusion of 
roses and blue-bells. On the summit of one of these hills we com- 
manded one of the few extensive prospects we had of late enjoyed. 
One range of heights rose behind another, each becoming fainter 
as it receded from the eye, till the farthest was blended in almost 
undistinguishable confusion with the clouds ; while the softest vales 
spread a panorama of hanging copses and glittering lakes at our 
feet." 

A writer in the New York Knickerbocker Magazine for October, 
1858, thus expresses himself: — 

" Here is the great fact of the north-western area of this conti- 
nent — an area not inferior in size to the whole United States east of 
the Mississippi — which is perfectly adapted to the fullest occupation 
by cultivated nations, yet is almost wholly unoccupied, lies west of 
the 98th meridian, and above the 43rd parallel — that is, north of 
the latitude of Milwaukee, and west of the longitude of Red River, 
Fort Kearney, and Corpus Christi ; or, to state the fact in another 
way, east of the Rocky Mountains, and west of the 98th meridian, 
and between the 43rd and 60th parallels, there is a productive 
cultivable area of 500,000 square miles. West of the Rocky 
Mountains, and between the same parallels, there is an area of 
300,000 square miles." 

TESTIMONY OF FATHER DE SMET. 

Father De Smet, a devoted Jesuit missionary to the Indians of 
Oregon (mentioned by Governor Stevens, in an address before the 
New York Geographical Society, as "a man whose name is a tower 
of strength and faith"), thus describes what he calls "the vast plain 
■ — the ocean of prairies ": — 



94 

** The entire region in the vicinity of the eastern chain of the 
Rocky Mountains, serving as their base for thirty or sixty miles, is 
extremely fertile, abounding in forests, plains, prairies, lakes, 
streams, and mineral springs. The rivers and streams are innume- 
rable, and on every side offer situations favourable for the 
construction of mills. The northern and southern branches of the 
Saskatchewan water the district I have traversed for a distance of 
about 300 miles. Forests of pine, cypress, thorn, poplar, and 
aspen trees, as well as others of different kinds, occupy a large 
portion of it, covering the declivities of the mountains and banks of 
the rivers. 

" These originally take their rise in the highest chains, whence 
they issue in every direction, like so many veins. The beds and 
sides of these rivers are pebbly, and their course rapid, but as they 
recede from the mountains they widen, and the currents lose 
something of their impetuosity. Their waters are usually very 
clear. The country would be capable of supporting a large popu- 
lation, and the soil is favourable for the production of barley, corn, 
potatoes, and beans, which grow here as well as in the more 
southern countries. 

(i Are these vast and innumerable fields of hay for ever destined 
to be consumed by fire or perish in the autumnal snows ? How 
long shall these superb forests be the haunts of wild beasts ? And 
these inexhaustible quarries — these abundant mines of coal, lead, 
sulphur, iron, copper, and saltpetre — can it be that they are doomed 
to remain for ever inactive ? Not so. The day will come when 
some labouring hand will give them value ; a strong, active, and 
enterprising people arc destined to fill this spacious void. The 
wild beasts will, ere long, give place to our domestic animals ; 
flocks and herds will graze in the beautiful meadows that border 
the numberless mountains, hills, valleys, and plains of this extensive 
region." 

LIFE AT EDMONTON. 

Life at Edmonton during the winter season is thus sketched : — 
k * The number of servants, including children, is about eighty. 
Besides a large garden, a field of potatoes and wheat belonging to 
the establishment, the lakes, forests, and plains of the neighbour- 
hood furnish provisions in abundance. On my arrival at the Fort, 
the ice-house contained 30,000 white fish, each weighing four 
pounds, and 500 buffaloes, the ordinary amount of the winter 
provisions. Such is the quantity of aquatic birds in the season, 
that sportsmen often send to the Fort carts full of fowls. Eggs are 
picked up by thousands in the straw and weeds of the marshes. I 
visited Lake St. Anne (a missionary station fifty miles north-west 
from Edmonton). The surface of this region is flat for the most 
part, undulating in some places — diversified with forests and mea- 
dows, and lakes teeming with fish. In Lake St. Anne alone were 



95 

caught, last autumn, more than 70,000 white fish, the most deli- 
cious of the kind. They are taken with a line at every season of 
the year. 

" Notwithstanding the rigour and duration of the winter in this 
northern region, the earth in general appears fertile. Vegetation 
is so forward in the spring and summer that potatoes, wheat, and 
barley, together with other vegetables of Canada, come to maturity." 

On the 12th of March, Father De Smet started on his return 
trip, proceeding with sledges drawn by dogs over the snow, to Fort 
Jasper, situated north-west from Edmonton on the Athabasca 
I\iver, half a degree north of latitude 54°. Here occurred the 
following hunting adventure : — 

" Provisions becoming scarce at the Fort, at the moment when 
we had with us a considerable number of Iroquois from the 
surrounding country, who were resolved to remain until my 
departure in order to assist at the instructions, we should have 
found ourselves in an embarrassing situation had not Mr. Frazer 
come to our relief, by proposing that we should leave the Fort and 
accompany himself and family to the Lake of Islands, where we 
could subsist partly on fish. As the distance was not great we 
accepted the invitation, and set out to the number of fifty-four 
persons and twenty dogs. I count the latter because we were as 
much obliged to provide for them as for ourselves. A little note of 
the game killed by our hunters during the twenty-six days of our 
abode at this place will afford you some interest — at least it will 
make you acquainted with the animals of the country, and prove 
that the mountaineers of the Athabasca are blessed with good 
appetites. Animals killed — 12 moose deer, 2 reindeer, 30 large 
mountain sheep or big-horn, 2 porcupines, 210 hares, 1 beaver, 10 
musk rats, 24 bustards, 115 ducks, 21 pheasants, 1 snipe, 1 eagle, 
1 owl; add to this from -30 to 55 white fish and 20 trout every day." 

THE RAILWAY ROUTE. 

Professor Henry Youle Hind, in speaking of the natural 
advantages of the basin of Lake Winnipeg for a route across the 
continent, says : ' ; It is impossible to examine a correct map of the 
North American Continent without being impressed with the 
remarkable influence which the Great American Desert must exer- 
cise upon the future of the United States and British North 
America. The general character of this desert south of the 49th 
parallel is described elsewhere, and the important fact has been 
noticed that any railroad constructed within the limits of the 
United States must pass for a distance of ticche hundred miles 
west of the Mississippi througli uncidtivahle land, or, in other 
words, a comparative desert. Along the 32nd parallel the breadth 
of this desert is least, and the detached areas of fertile soil greatest 
in quantity; but the aggregate number of square miles of cultivable 



96 

land amounts only to 2300 in a distance of 1210 miles. The 
northern limit of the Great American Desert is an imaginary line 
drawn from the Touchwood Hills to the Moose Woods on the 
south branch, then South of Battle River as far as longitude 112°, 
when, turning south, it sweeps along the flanks of the Rocky Moun- 
tains in longitude 1 15°. North of this limit of the Great American 
Desert there is a broad strip of fertile country, rich in water, woods, 
and pasturage, drained by the North Saskatchewan and some of its 
affluents, and being a continuation of the fertile prairies of Red 
River, the eastern watershed of the Assiniboine and Red Deer 
River, with the outlying patches called the Touchwood Hills, 
Tile Hill, &c. 

" It is a physical reality of the highest importance to the 
interests of British North America, that this continuous belt can be 
settled and cultivated from a few miles icest of the Lake of the 
Woods to the passes of the Rocky Mountains, and any line of 
communication , whether by waggon road or railroad, passing 
through it will eventually enjoy the great advantage of being fed 
by an agricultural population from one extremity to the other" 

We have been particular to quote the descriptions of this 
" Fertile Belt/' because when we come to the consideration of a 
railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, the importance of 
this testimony in relation to this magnificent country will then be 
perceived. 

MINERALS, VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS, ANIMALS, FISH, ETC. 

Minerals. — Gold has of late been discovered in the banks 
of the river Saskatchewan, near the foot of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. News received as late as December, 1864, states men 
are gathering as much as £4 per day. Copper and malachite 
exist in the region of Coppermine River ; plumbago, iron, and 
mineral pitch, have been found on Lake Athabasca; salt has 
been found in a very pure state near Great Slave Lake, as well 
as salt springs, on the borders of Lake Manitoba and Winnipegosis ; 
Limestone occurs at Red River and Lake Winnipeg ; granite is 
found in inexhaustible quantities between Lake Winnipeg, Lake 
Superior, and Hudson's Bay; coal has been discovered on the 
Assouri River, near Fort Edmonton, and also on Red Deer River. 

Vegetable Productions.— The principal trees which abound are 
the balsam, the poplar, and the aspen, and arc the common trees of 
the plain country ; there is also, in limited quantities, the white 
spruce, the American larch, the fir, bank pine, white or bass wood, 
the sugar maple, spruce tree, the ash, the oak, as far as Red River 
and Lake Manitobas. But the Rocky Mountains are covered with 
a luxury and splendour of timber growth sufficient to supply the 
wants of the valleys at her feet for centuries. If the vast tracts of 
prairie land teem with verdant grasses which preclude the forest's 



97 

growth, the watercourses can carry into all its river ramifications 
timber of every variety. 

Grass. — Grass is everywhere, spreading in fields of natural 
verdure that would gladden the eye of any agriculturist. When 
we think of the millions of buffaloes that year after year find pasture 
sufficient for their wants, we may imagine what herds of cattle and 
horses could subsist upon the nutritious grasses and vetches that 
abound on the plains and the numerous swamps. 

Berries and Hoots. — These are abundant and various, and in- 
clude the cranberry, sasketoom, pembina, currant (black and red), 
gooseberry, raspberry, and strawberry. AVild rice is plentiful, the 
prairie turnip peculiar to Hudson's Bay, besides numerous roots 
used for medicinal and dyeing purposes. 

Animals. — The various fur-bearing animals we have previously 
specified, and will therefore add those -which are used for purposes 
of food and usefulness. 

The bear, reindeer, moose, muskrat, porcupine, beaver, hare, 
musk ox, buffalo, antelope, big-horn, and mountain goat, and the 
wapeti. 

Fish. — The principal fish are the white fish (a delicious fish, 
and found in all the lakes), the sturgeon, pike, gold-eyes, trout, cat- 
fish, suckers, &c. 

Aquatic Animals. — The seal, the waburs, the white bear, and 
the white tortoise, called the "white whale," frequent Hudson's 
Bay and Straits. 

RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 

was originally projected by Lord Selkirk, a Scottish nobleman largely 
interested in the Hudson's Bay Company, who held a vast extent 
of land by charter from the British Crown. Of the Company, he 
made an extensive purchase, and brought over his first colonists in 
1813, and remained with them twelve months. Another accession 
was made in 1817, and another in 1823; and they now number, in 
Europeans, French Canadians, and half-breeds, about 10,000 souls. 
One half the population are hunters, and the other half farmers. 
The main settlement, known as " Red River," is about 60 miles 
north of Pembina, or down the river, and is on an extensive plain, 
which extends, somewhat broken and interspersed with timber, 
east to Lake Winnipeg. The hunters, mostly half-breeds, do 
nothing but hunt buffalo. They make two grand excursions each 
year ; one commencing on the 20th of June, and lasting two months, 
and the other on the 10th of September, and lasting till the 10th of 
November. The hunters lead a free, happy, wild, romantic life, 
and are, when in the settlement, temperate and well-behaved. 

The farmers raise wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, cattle and sheep. 
Turnips, onions, peas, cabbage, rhubarb, radishes, mangel, hops, 
pumpkins, and melons grow in abundance. In 1856, there were 
922 houses, 1232 stables, 399 barns, 1503 horses, 1296 mares, 27 ( J6 

H 



98 

oxen, 290 bulls, 8593 cows, 2644 calves, 4674 pigs, 2429 sheep, 
585 ploughs, 730 harrows, 2045 carts, 522 canoes, 55 boats, 8347 
acr . s of cultivated land ; number of acres in 1864, 22,000. 

Oxen are worth from 60 to 100 dollars a yoke ; cows from 15 
to £0 dollars ; a good cart-horse, 80 dollars ; and a horse trained 
to hunt buffalo will bring 150 to 200 dollars. 

Their wheat is equal to any in the world, weighing from 65 lbs. to 
70 lbs. to the bushel ; barley and oats are also heavy, and potatoes 
and all kinds of garden vegetables grow luxuriantly. The land is 
never manured. From o\ to 4 feet of snow falls in winter, and 
rain is unknown from November to April. 

They originally received their supplies of merchandise from 
York Factory, a store of the Hudson's Bay Company, 700 miles 
from Red River. It required two months to make the journey, 
and there were thirty-six portages (carrying-places) to be made in 
going that distance. The title of the settlement is " The Red River 
Colony," and it is ruled by a governor appointed by the Queen. 
The magistrates, councillors, and officers, receive their commissions 
from the committee of the Hudson's Bay Company. The jurisdic- 
tion of the governor extends 100 miles in all directions from Fort 
Garry, except over the American line. 

American Trade. — The census of 1856 shows the fruit of its 
recent intercourse with the new American settlements in Minnesota, 
in the introduction of new agricultural machinery : — 8 thrashing 
machines, 3 steam saw-mills, 2 reaping machines, 1 carding 
machine, 800 harrows, 2000 carts, oOO ploughs, 2 steam-ploughs, 
and 56 merchant shops. Its rapidly increasing intercourse with 
an American market has developed a spirit of enterprise among the 
people, new forms of industry, and a growing demand for American 
commodities. 

HOMES FOR THE EMIGRANT. 

Trade must find its natural outlet, and agriculture demands 
its most advantageous markets. We cannot well force com- 
merce through unnatural currents, and we cannot for ever shut 
out the solid cohorts of advancing emigrants when they are 
thundering at our gates for a passage to lands inviting them 
by their extent, their accessibility, and their richness. It is 
better to open the gates willingly — better to guide than to be 
jostled by the throng. The splendid landscapes of the Assiniboine 
that adorn the great picture gallery of nature, cannot be closed 
for ever. The measureless prairies that stretch in vast waves of 
beauty from the Lake of the Woods to the base of the Rocky 
Mountains, redolent and gorgeous with the richest profusion of 
rose-bushes, blue-bells, woodbine, convolvulus, helianthii, and 
thousands of nameless and delicate flowers, tell the beholder the 
wealth of soil that supports them in their entangled and untrained 
luxuriance of variety and numbers. The thousands of small lakes 



99 

— sweet eyes of earth — that clot the valleys, invite him with their 
clear waters and fisheries ; the rivers that spread, interlace, and 
ramify for thousands of miles, tell of a well-watered soil. The 
yellow sand of the Saskatchewan, made brilliant by the noonday 
sun, flashes and sparkles with auriferous wealth ; the dark black 
seams that crumble beneath his tread, are signs of coal, that tell him 
his hearth shall glow with a genial warmth that shall bid defiance 
to the external frost. The stately elms, the graceful ash and 
bending willow, the grand spreading oak and the ever-verdant pine, 
that fringe the prairies, gather in assemblies, and crowd so close 
upon the mountains that their leaves, limbs, and trunks shoulder 
and jostle each other in progressive development, tell him there is 
labour for the forester, the lumberer, and the builder. Granite, as 
compact and strong as that on which the Pyramids of Egypt rest, is 
scattered in numerous quarries throughout this great province. 
Game, such as the buffalo, swarm over the plains, while the stately 
cariboo, the prowling bear, the wily fox, the pretty mink, the busy 
otter, the nimble squirrel, and the scented rat are swarming through 
the forest, and by lake and river. Of birds, there is the majestic 
eagle and the blue-winged jay, the murderous hawk and the little 
jewelled humming-bird ; together with duck and pigeon, sandpiper 
and cherry-bird, loom and partridge, magpie and blackcap, nightin- 
gale and swallow, grouse and snipe, kingfisher and plover. Here 
experiments have been carried on for fifty years, and here we find 
corn, and wheat, and fruit, and vegetable thrive in a remarkable 
manner, and where wheat can be grown " for twenty years in suc- 
cession." But all this land has been shut out from the knowledge 
of the world. A new era is at hand. The people of the Atlantic 
are w r ooing the people of the Pacific ; they would be united by an 
iron band. The great North-East invites British Columbia to share 
her future with her, and to march forward hand in hand with her ; 
to send her the tributes of the Pacific — the gold of Vancouver, 
Australia, California, and Columbia — and the spices, silks, and teas 
of India, China, and Japan ; while from across the Atlantic will 
come an endless variety of exchanges. 

THE HIGHWAY IS ACROSS THE HUDSON'S BAY 
TERRITORY. 

Gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay Company, you have possessed for 
two centuries a splendid monopoly. We are not of those who wholly 
condemn the manner in which you have administered the power 
delegated to you ; on the contrary, a careful knowledge of the his- 
tory and results of your rule, prove that your affairs have been ad- 
ministered with much ability, discretion, and judgment. Your 
labours have been prosperous to an unparalleled degree, and the 
amicable manner in which you, and those under your authority, 
have conducted your relations with the Indians, and to which they 
bear testimony, for so lengthened a period, certainly is in the 
highest degree creditable to you when contrasted with the exter- 

h 2 



100 

minating warfare which, has characterized the relations of the United 
States' Government with them. It cannot be expected that a 
monopoly so entire should be carried on without producing many 
animosities, and that acts have not been committed which appear 
unwise, impolitic, and arbitrary. It would be unreasonable to 
suppose that you are so devoid of self-interest as to be willing to 
give up a power so long possessed, and providing such a splendid 
interest on the capital employed, or that you are willing to forego 
any right you may possess for the general good. When merchants 
place their surplus profits in a joint-stock company, they do so 
for the purpose of securing continued and safe interest. Now, the 
cry against the Hudson's Bay Company is, that locked in the valleys 
of the Assiniboine and Saskatchewan, there is 65,000 square miles 
of cultivable land, of which 27,000 square miles, or 17,000,000 
acres, is at once available for the agriculturist ; and this land is 
black with richness. The whole of your land is 150,000 square 
miles. The principal means from which you derive your income at 
present is the fur trade. In the year 1864, the sales of furs in 
London amounted to £'262,869 ; but the public believe that there 
are many other sources of supply to swell the dividends. As the 
operations of the Company have not been published as widely as 
those of many joint-stock companies of London, we have taken 
the latest statement which we have received previous to the abridg- 
ment of the Company's power over Vancouver's Island and British 
Columbia. On June 1, 1856, the capital of the Hudson's Bay Com- 
pany w T as as follows : — 

Amount of assets £1,468,301 16 3 

Amount of liabilities 203,233 16 11 

Capital £1,265,067 19 4 

Consisting of — 

Stock standing in the names of the pro- 
prietors £500,000 

Valuation of the Company's lands and build- 
ings, exclusive of Vancouver's Island and 
Oregon 318,884 12 8 

Amount expended up to 16th September, 
1856, in sending miners and labourers to 
Vancouver's Island, in the coal-mines, 
and other objects of colonization, exclu- 
sive of the trading establishments of the 
Company, and which amount will be re- 
payable by Government, if possession 
of the island is resumed 87,071 8 3 

Amount invested in Fort Victoria, and 
other establishments and posts in Van- 
couver's Island, estimated at .... 75,000 

Carryforward £980,956 71 



101 

Brought forward .... £9^0,956 11 
Amount paid to the Earl of Selkirk for Red 

Eiver Settlement 84,111 18 5 

Property and investments in the Territory 

of Oregon, ceded to the United States by 

the treaty of 1846, and which are secured 

to the Company as possessory rights 

under that treaty, 1,000,000 dollars . . 200,000 

Total £1,265,067 19 4 

Now we must deduct all interests in Vancouver's Island which 
are in direct possession of the British Government. 

THE COMPANY'S LANDS IN THE MARKET. 

Let us take away the whole of the 17,000,000 acres of avail- 
able land ; the fur trade would suffer but very little. Suppose 
that, instead of allowing the whole of the Indians to subsist by trap- 
ping and hunting, one-half were taught the first elements of agri- 
culture and located at various points on a given line, which leads 
from Pembina to the Rocky Mountains. It is all nonsense to say 
we cannot civilize the savage. Give him the implements and the 
seeds, set over him or them an overseer to guide, direct, and teach 
them, and keep away the curse of rum, and there will be no difficulty 
in civilizing them. They farm well enough at Red River, and, be 
assured, when they are convinced that by proper attention and a 
certain amount of labour they may provide comforts for the long 
winter, the revolution will be complete. For the other half there is 
employment beyond the prairies. The fur-bearing animals are not 
found in great numbers or variety here ; therefore we maintain that 
the cultivation of this district would not materially affect the fur trade. 
There are regions adapted for fur-bearing animals and not adaptable 
for purposes of agriculture; the land of the Ojibways east and north 
of Lake Winnipeg, Winnipeg River, and Rainy River, and away to 
Labrador and Hudson's Bay ; all the land north of 5,5° ; the land 
of the Black Foot Indians, a portion of the Assiniboine Indians' 
land, and the Rocky Mountains. " Give us a market for our cattle 
and we can raise incalculable numbers," — so say the people of the 
Red River Settlement. 

The Nor- Wester, a newspaper published for the first time at 
the Red River Settlement on the 28th December, 1859, mentions 
Mr. Gowler's success as an agriculturist in the following terms : — 
" He sowed 63 bushels of wheat, 36 of barley, 24 of oats, and 101 
of potatoes, and from these he realized 700 of wheat, 350 of barley, 
480 of oats, and 2100 of potatoes. The cost of the seed was £50 ; 
in preparing and tilling the soil about £25 more were expended ; 
and the cost of gathering in and threshing the crops is set down at 
£100 — making a total expenditure of £175. Place against that the 



102 

sums representing the sale of wheat at 6s., and the barley at 3s. 9d., 
the oats at 2s. 6d., and the potatoes at Is. 3d. per bushel (average 
price which the produce will easily command), and an argument 
more strong and convincing than could be wrought out by any other 
process of reasoning, stands stubbornly forth in favour of the claims 
of the settlement as being one of the best agricultural countries on 
the face of the globe. It should be added that Mr. Gowler's profits 
have already enabled him to enlarge the bounds of his estate to 600 
acres, to stock it with a noble herd of cattle and horses, and to make 
the necessary preparations for erecting thereon, next summer, a 
snug and comfortable mansion." 

Imagine the value of 20,000,000 acres of rich land ready 
for cultivation thrown into the market. When the lands in Connec- 
ticut and New York reached £10 in value, the people moved west- 
ward to Michigan and Ohio ; when, in a few years, lands which had 
cost 10s. an acre increased to £10, they moved to Wisconsin and 
Illinois, and bought lands as low as 5s. sterling an acre. Then lands 
increased here to 2000 per cent, over their original price. Then 
Iowa and Minnesota soon came into the market, and these lands are 
being rapidly taken up, and their value has increased in a marvel- 
lous ratio. 

Westward is the movement towards the Pacific beyond the Mis- 
sissippi; the arid districts of the Upper Missouri arc barren tracts, 
wholly uncultivatable; the coming exodus of people will soon overrun 
Minnesota, and seek the rich lands of the " Fertile Belt." Who 
shall stop them? The splendid and complicated system .of the 
Hudson's Bay Company is admirably adapted to map out this vast 
tract ; the army of servants who obey their behests could soon 
survey every part. Before long, the rumbling of wheels, and the 
whistle of the advancing locomotive, will be heard at Pembina; 
the great bodies of emigrants who seek the gold-fields of the Pacific 
and the Saskatchewan are coming with their long trains. Surely 
it is time for the Company to awake ; the great modern revolu- 
tionizer is near them — the iron bands are waiting to span the 
prairies. But it is said the Kocky Mountains are an insuperable 
obstacle to a railroad. 



CROSSING THE ItOCKY MOUNTAINS. 

Can it be supposed that a people who have tunnelled the Alps and 
the Thames ; who have arched the Loire and the Seine a hundred 
times ; who have united the shores of the St. Lawrence, and crossed 
its mighty current with two miles of iron tubing ; who have leaped 
yawning chasms at a bound ; who have, amidst discouragement, 
difficulty, doubt, and fatigue, but with iron will, constructed in 
this age one hundred thousand miles of railroads across prairies — 
by the side of yawning precipices — overlooking miles upon miles of 
cities and towns — ascending peak after peak — and descending awful 



103 

slopes — now sweeping in graceful curves by the side of rushing 
rivers — then rumbling over the tops of houses whose dwellers lived 
in security — off again into the daisied and cowslipped fields — 
speeding through umbrageous forests that formed an avenue o'er- 
topped and arched with foliage — leaping rivers innumerable, on 
its iron supports— pushed beneath the hills, which towered above 
hundreds of feet — till once again the shrill whistle announced 
a stoppage to its progress : the people who have erected palaces of 
glass and iron ; who have built ships as large as the ark ; who can 
build ships impervious to cannon balls, and lay a cable beneath the 
ocean three thousand miles wide : are not going to stop or halt at 
the foot of the Rocky Mountains because those mountains are tall. 
They are going over them, up them, or down them — around their 
sides, across their passes, or through them or under them ; but 
iron rails must be wedded to iron rails from one side of the slope 
to the other — and once wedded, there will be no divorce. Every 
nerve should be strained, every influence used, and every desire of 
the Company should be, to open a track for the emigrant. The 
ultimate value of their possessions, once under the sway of agricul- 
ture, no figures could calculate. 

PROGRESS OF THE WEST. 

Say that the capital was £2,000,000; why, this land will yet 
sell for £3,500,000 at only 4s. an acre. Think of the marvellous 
increase which all the West shows. Only a few years since, Texas, 
Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri, were an untracked 
wilderness, and land hardly worth a song. In Texas, in 1850, 
there was under cultivation 643,976 acres; in 1860, 2,649,207. 
Iowa, in 1850, 824,682 acres ; in 1860, 3,780,253. Wisconsin, in 
1850, 1,045,499 acres ; in 1860, 3,746,036. Minnesota, in 1850, 
5035 acres; in 1860, 554,397. Missouri, in 1850, 2,938,425 
acres; in 1860, 6,246,871. Minnesota, 1st January, 1865, had 
1,000,000 acres of land under cultivation, and the value of her 
farms was estimated at 34,000,000 dollars. Thus, in 1850, this 
new-born state possessed a less number of acres under cultivation 
than the Red River Settlement, which was 6392 acres in 1849 ; in 
1860, 10,000 acres; and only 20,000 in 1864. 

When Professor Hind was about to bid adieu to Mr. Gowler, 
one of the best farmers at Red River Settlement, the latter said, as 
he closed the wicket-gate, ■•' Look at that prairie ; 10,000 head of 
cattle might feed and fatten for nothing. If I found it worth my 
while, I could enclose 50, 100, or 500 acres, and from every acre 
get 30 to 40 bushels of wheat, year after year. I could grow 
Indian corn, barley, oats, flax, hemp, hops, turnips, tobacco — any- 
thing you wish, and to any amount ; but what would be the use ? 
There are no markets — it's a chance if my wheat is taken, and my 
potatoes I may have to give to the pigs. If we had only a market, 



104 

you'd have to travel long before you would see the like of these 
prairies about the Assiniboine." 

Professor Hind says that he saw wheat that had grown 56 
bushels to the acre. Swedish turnips were magnificent ; four of 
them weighed 70 lbs. — two weighing 39 lbs., and two others 31 lbs. 
I counted thirteen, fourteen, and sixteen potatoes averaging 3| 
inches in diameter at each root respectively. They were a round, 
white-skinned variety, like those known in Canada as the " English 
White." 

We believe the directors of the Company are far-seeing enough 
to know what is the best policy for themselves and those they 
represent, and that we shall see them ready and willing to assist in 
advancing the interests of the stockholders, promoting the good of 
the settler, developing the resources of the country, opening up the 
highways of travel, and extending the influence and power of a 
Government, strong, protective, and beneficent. 



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105 



CHAPTEE IX. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA AND VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 

The Rocky Mountains : their Extent, their Altitude, their Passes — British Colum- 
bia : Early Discovery, Boundary-line, Lakes, Rivers, &c. ; Gold and the Gold- 
mines ; Discovery of the Gold; Testimony of Governor Douglas, G. Forbes 
Macdonald, Esq., and the Times Correspondent — Gold on Eraser River — 
Richness of the Mines — Mines on Thompson River — Lillooett Gold-mines — 
Cariboo Gold River — Steele's Company — Labour in British Columbia— Export 
of Gold in 1863 — Fertility of Soil in the Gold Neighbourhood — Progress 
of the Colony — Vancouver's Island : its Agricultural Resources, Coal-beds, 
Importance as a Naval Station, Imports and Exports ; Prospecting, Panning, 
and Washing Gold. 

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 

The Rocky Mountains stretch from north to south of the North 
American Continent for a distance of 3000 miles. They are a 
succession of centres of disturbance, rather than a continuous range 
of backbone dividing the continent. Their greatest altitude is 
attained at Mount Brown, which is 15,000 feet above the sea. At 
their arctic termination they are about 1000 or 2000 feet in height ; 
they then increase in altitude as they go southward, averaging 
7000 to 8000 feet ; while Mount Brown, Mount Hooker, Fremont's 
Peak, and Long's Peak attain a much greater height. 

The general width of the Bocky Mountains is from 40 to 100 miles. 
South of 42" there is no route across the mountains capable of being 
traversed ; but north of this there are two passes, called the North 
and South Passes, within the boundaries of the United States, and 
averaging 7000 feet in height. In British America the passes 
are numerous. Those at present discovered are — 

Lat. 

1 . Cow-Dung Lake Portage, or Leather Pass . . . 54° 0' 

2. Boat Encampment, or Original Athabasca Portage 53° 45' 

3. Howe's Pass 51° 45' 

4. Kicking Horse Pass 51° 25' 

5. Vermilion Pass 51° 10' 

6. Kananaski, or Emigrant Pass 50 J 40' 

7. Crow-Nest Pass 49° 40' 

8. Kootanay Pass 49° 25' 

These passes will be more particularly referred to when we con- 
sider the subject of a railway across the continent. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

British Columbia occupies an area of 225,250 square miles. 
It is about 420 miles long, and 300 miles broad. It comprises " all 



106 

such territories within the dominions of Her Majesty as are bounded 
to the south by the frontier of the United States of America, to the 
east by the main chain of the Rocky Mountains, to the north by 
Simpson's River and the Finlay branch of the Peace River, and to 
the west by the Pacific Ocean," and all the islands adjacent to these 
territories. 

EARLY DISCOVERY. 

Early in the sixteenth century, the Spaniards, who had explored 
a great deal of the shores of the Pacific, and planted several small 
colonies, extended their adventures gradually northward, and dis- 
covered the coasts of British Columbia. The Straits of Juan de 
Fuca were discovered by a Spanish pilot, who had visited its shores. 
In 1578, Drake touched at Vancouver on his voyage round the 
world. In 1792, Captain Vancouver, an officer in the English 
Navy, who had been sent to settle some difficulties with the 
Spaniards in reference to the seizure of some English ships, arrived 
at Nootka ; but not finding the Spanish admiral there, he sailed 
through the Straits of Fuca, entered the Gulf of Georgia, and, 
forcing his way through, passed at length into the Pacific by 
Queen Charlotte Sound, giving his name to the island he had thus 
circumnavigated . 

Sir A. Mackenzie, in 1792, explored the shores of the Peace 
River for a distance of 200 miles. 

In the year 1806, Mr. Fraser, a gentleman in the employ of the 
North-West Company, crossed the Rocky Mountains at Leather 
Pass, from Canada; descended the river which bears his name, until 
he arrived at a lake, which he also christened after himself; and 
here he erected a fort, and established a trading post, at the 54th 
parallel of latitude. In 1810, an American company, called the 
Pacific Fur Company, under the superintendence of John Jacob 
Astor (who afterwards became the wealthiest merchant in America), 
a German merchant of New York, formed other trading com- 
munities. 

r.OUNDARY-LINE. 

At a later period, difficulties arose as to the right of possession 
between various governments. Russia claimed certain territory 
west of the Rocky Mountains and north of 54° 40', including Sitka 
and its neighbourhood. In 1823, President Monroe announced his 
celebrated Monroe doctrine, that further colonization by European 
Powers would be opposed. From this time forward, up to 1844, 
matters between England and the United States wore a threatening 
aspect. " Fifty-four, forty, or fight," was the rallying cry of the 
American Democratic party. Fortunately, negotiations and diplo- 
matic arrangements were not controlled by the rabble. The line of 
the 4D th parallel, from the Rocky Mountains to the sea, was 
the basis of settlement for this vexed question ; but, alas ! no human 



107 

foresight can prevent contingencies. The line was to continue 
through the centre of the Gulf of Georgia, and thence southward, 
through the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver 
Island, to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Now, subsequent ex- 
ploration proved there were three channels instead of one. Of course 
the Americans claimed the furthest north as the boundary-line, the 
British the furthest south. Thanks to nature, there is a centre one; 
and it is to be hoped both parties will amicably arrange this matter, 
at the earliest possible moment. 

LAKES AND RIVERS. 

The surface of the whole country is intersected with mountains, 
hills, lakes, rivers, and plains. There is a range of mountains 
called the Cascade Mountains, between the coast and the Rocky 
Mountains : further south they are called the Sierra Nevada. 

The principal lakes are Stuart's Lake, in lat. 54° 50', long. 124° W. 
This lake is fifty miles in length, and from three to four miles in 
breadth. Eraser's Lake is fifty miles west of this, and about eighty- 
five miles in circumference. M'Leod's Lake, in latitude 55°, is in 
circumference about fifty-five miles. Further south we have Lakes 
Quesnelle, Chilcotin, and Axe, all connected with Fraser's River. 
Green Lake, Shoushwap Lake, Kamloop's Lake, and Harrison's 
Lake are all connected with Thompson River. 

The Okanagan Lake, Upper and Lower Arrow Lake, and Flat 
Bow Lake are all connected with the waters of Columbia River, 
which crosses the boundary-line at 49° lat., and extends its branches 
northward and westward as far as 52° 40', and along the western 
base of the Rocky Mountains. 

Mr. Hazlitt, in a useful little volume, entitled " The Great Gold- 
Fields of Cariboo," speaking of the rivers, says : — " The principal 
rivers of British Columbia are Fraser's River, Salmon River, 
Thompson's River, Quesnelle's River, Chilcotin River. The head 
waters of the chief of these, Fraser's River — called by the natives 
Tatoutche Tesse — rise near those of Canoe River, the most northern 
branch of the Columbia. After a western course of about 150 miles, 
it receives the Salmon River from the north, and somewhat lower 
the waters of Stuart's River are added from the north-west. The 
stream is then swollen by the Quesnelle River, rising from a riclge of 
the Rocky Mountains, and running west into the main river of the 
district. Next comes the Chilcotin River, so called from a cog- 
nominal lake, in which it has its source. This stream, which is 
shallow and full of rapids, runs in a S.S.E. direction from Fort 
Alexandria; its course is serpentine, and its whole length 180 miles, 
the breadth varying from forty to sixty yards. 

" Further on, this main stream is joined, on the left shore, by 
Thompson's River, which, rising near the source of Quesnelle's River, 
flows at the base of the mountains which bound the Columbia to the 



108 

west : this receives the waters of several lakes in a course of above 
300 miles. The principal of these is Thompson's, above which it is 
joined by the Shoushwap, which has its rise between the Okanagan 
lakes and main streams of the Columbia. 

"The place at which Thompson's River joins Fraser's River 
is called ' The Forks.' In parallel 49° this now important river 
breaks through the Cascade range of mountains, in a succession of 
falls and rapids, and then running westward about ninety miles, 
falls into the Gulf of Georgia, six miles north of 49° N., that parallel 
being the boundary-line between the British territories and those of 
the United States. The whole length is stated at about 400 miles. 
The country along its lower section is hilly and thickly wooded, and 
the soil is for the most part suitable both for arable and pasture land. 
Further north the country is equally well wooded, but it is less genial 
and fertile, and is intersected by mountains, torrents, gullies, and 
ravines. 

" At its mouth, Fraser's River is about a mile wide, with a ser- 
pentine channel leading through a mud flat. Fort Langley is situated 
on the left bank, thirty-five miles from the mouth. Thus far the 
stream is navigable for vessels of considerable burden. The next 
post is Fort Hope, at the mouth of Que-Queallon River, sixty-five 
miles above Fort Langley. Between Fort Hope and Fort Yale, 
sixteen miles, the river presents no difficulties whatever to a canoe 
ascending, excepting in one place, where there is a rapid, which, 
however, is no great obstacle, as close to the shore, in the eddy, a 
canoe is easily towed past it. But, about one half mile above Fort 
Yale, the river finds its passage between huge rocks — the sides 
almost perpendicular — and a canoe cannot be taken any farther. 
From thence, all goods have to be packed. Now and then a stretch 
of a mile or so is found, where the canoe can be of service. 

" From Fort Yale to the forks of Thompson and Fraser Rivers 
is ninety miles ; and from these to the Grand Falls, thirty." 

GOLD AND THE GOLD-MINES. 

Before we proceed to a consideration of the agricultural 
resources of British Columbia, or attempt a description of its forests, 
or any other of its elements of wealth, we know that the emigrant 
has linked the name of gold with all connected with this territory, 
and that that subject is the one he feels most interest in. 

" Why this 
Will buy your priests and servants from your sides; 
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads. 

This yellow slave 
Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed; 
Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves, 
And give them title, knee, and approbation, 
With senators on the bench ! " 



109 

It is indeed a wondrous talisman, and an all-powerful agent for 
good or evil. It tempted a Judas to betray his master, and an 
Arnold his country ; it gave Ceesar the means of purchasing the 
allegiance of his enemies, and it made James, King of England, the 
tool of Louis of France. It melted the heart of Diana with its glit- 
tering hue, and has gifted old age with the fascinations of Mars. 
Princes and merchants, youth, beauty, and innocence, are alike its 
willing worshipper. 

" Gold is the strength, the sinews of the world; 
The health, the soul, the beauty most divine. 
A mask of gold hides all deformities ; 
Gold is Heaven's physic, life's restorative." 

The luxuries, comforts, and quietude of a happy home, with the 
dear family links that should bind us there — the warm appeals from 
those who have a right to counsel and advise ; the warnings given 
with prophetic utterance of privations and hardships in store ; the 
love of country, her institutions and her protective influence ; the 
long and weary voyage across the stormy ocean, with its attendant 
discomforts and dangers; the slow and laborious travel over cheerless 
plains, up and down rugged mountains, and over numberless streams; 
the solitude of night on the vast and wide-spread prairies; the disap- 
pointments that continually cross our path — are alike incapable of 
stopping our onward progress. Gold has burnt its name into our 
brain — every marvellous story of sudden accumulated or discovered 
wealth is treasured up in our memory. In visions and in dreams 
we gild and silver the rafters and walls of our quiet and comfortable 
cottage with the products of the mines of Mexico and Peru, Australia 
and California. The solid pyramid at Sydenham Palace, that 
raises its gilded column as a symbol of the wealth of one of Eng- 
land's colonies, is but another incentive to our already disquieted 
brain, and tempts us to seek the source from whence it came. All 
that produces gold, or is a symbol of wealth, alike fascinates us. 
Has the sight of the Koh-i-noor — that " mountain of light," that 
"monarch of diamonds," that a Queen alone is thought worthy to 
wear — ever ceased to be forgotten? Rather has the beholder 
travelled in imagination to Golconda, and pondered over its wealth 
of diamonds, rubies, chrysolites, garnets, amethysts, cornelians, 
jaspers, agates, and opals. We never reflect upon the labour or the 
means by which they are obtained. The proud duchess only thinks 
of the effect of the diamonds that flash from her coronet — the 
thousands of wedded brides, when the golden symbol is slipping 
surely on the finger that links them heart and altar bound, in the 
moment of their royal joy, have no thought of the miner who 
washed it from the sands, or picked it from the crushed quartz 
thousands of miles across the ever-moving sea, and who is, perhaps, 
now laid quietly in 

" Death's northern sea of frozen waves." 



110 

Neither does the coy maiden, who, with downcast gaze, is idly 
toying with a string of pearls, yet is listening with eager attention 
to her lover's words, think of the agony which swelled the veins to 
bursting of the poor diver who groped the sands beneath the waves 
to gather gems for her adornment. No ; we never ask how many 
fingers grew weary over the embroidered dress that is now a 
Wonder of taste ; we never think, when gazing on some statue that 
seems to us a miracle of beauty, of the study, thought, and patient 
labour by which it was brought from its unshapen state to its per- 
fect form. We never ask what labour was bestowed on this or 
that. The Pyramids are towering in their height on Egypt's sands ; 
the Vatican proudly lifts her classic columns above the capitoline 
hills of imperious Rome; the gloomy architectural pile of St. Paul's 
rises in stately grandeur in the midst of a city who is to-day Queen 
of the commercial world. We look, we see, and are satisfied. The 
busy hand, the combined herculean strength, the architectural 
conceivers, and the mechanical employers have all gone : marble, 
stone, and brick remain. 

Gold is embedded in the quartz and sand of the Pacific to an 
unlimited extent, and in sufficient quantities to supply the demands 
of the world for centuries to come. 

Australia, California, and British Columbia, between the years 
1849-63, have produced £850,000,000, or equal to 58 per cent, 
upon the total computed stock of £600,000,000 sterling of gold 
existing in various forms in Europe and America. 

With such evidence as this in existence, is it to be wondered at 
that the brain becomes dazzled with figures, and that there is a 
longing in the mind of the dissatisfied to try the chances in this 
great lottery of gold ? 

All the glittering stories of Pizarro have been realized ; the 
rainbow bubble of the South Sea has burst into showers of aurife- 
rous wealth. The gifts of the Queen of Sheba, the wealth of 
Indian rajas, and the hidden stores of the misers of Egypt, are 
atoms in the scale where the splendours of the Pacific weigh in the 
balance, " God made mankind ; 

See what mankind have made their god." 

So says Alfred Evelyn, in Bulwer's play of " Money." 

The colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand — 
the slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California; the vast interior 
district of Cariboo, which parts the waters of the Columbia, Fraser, 
Saskatchewan, Athabasca, and Peace Pavers, to every point of the 
compass ; the slopes of Gold Hill and Snowy Mountain in Colo- 
rado — possess rivers like that of Pison, " encompassing the whole 
land of Havilah, where there is gold, and the gold of the land 
is good." 

DISCOVERS OF THE GOLD. 

As early as June, 1856, Governor Douglas reported to the 



Ill 

Secretary of State the discovery of gold in British Columbia. D. 
G. Forbes Macdonald, C.E., F.R.G.S., in his work on British 
Columbia, thus expatiates on the effects which the discovery of 
gold produced: — "The announcement was received, however, 
with comparative disbelief until June 1858, when the reported 
wealth of the Fraser River mines produced an excitement which 
resulted in an unparalleled exodus. The fever all over the State 
of California was intense, and few, if any, escaped its contagion. 
Multitudes pressed on to the new Eldorado by steamers, sailing- 
vessels, barques, brigs, and schooners, until upwards of 40,000 souls 
had landed on Vancouver's Island. The poor, the rich, the old, 
the young, and even the decrepit, had gone ; merchants, doctors, 
lawyers, loafers, all had gone. Brethren of the creeds of Calvin, 
Luther, and Penn, the admirers of Voltaire, and the fellow-thinkers 
of Tom Paine, had gone also to add their quota to the motley 
crowd. The price of revolvers and bowie-knives advanced: and 
everything indicated that the State of California would lose nearly 
all her male population. Business men of all classes abandoned 
their occupations. Many went without money, many with ; some 
to invest in real estate, others to swindle, many to gamble ; some 
out of curiosity, some to steal, and many to die. In this remarkable 
throng were blended all ranks, all professions, and all parties. An 
eager strife of tongues prevailed in this second Babel; and even 
the voice of women rose loud and incessant in the throng. People 
of all nations went ; and many borrowed sums at ruinous interest, 
advanced on goods and property, which soon passed away into the 
ruthless hands of the usurer." 

The comprehensive and carefully written letter of the special 
correspondent of the London Times conveys so correct an idea of 
the country, and treats in detail the whole subject so minutely, and 
its facts have been since so clearly established, that we have 
transferred much of the letter to these pages. 

" Victoria, Vancouver's Island, Jan. 20, 1862. 

" Beginning with Fraser River, the main artery of the aurife- 
rous region, I may state that gold is known to exist and has been 
worked at a great many places in the river and on its banks from a 
point about 45 miles from the mouth of the river up to near its 
source in the Rocky Mountains ; in other words, from the 49th up 
to the 53rd parallel of north latitude, a distance (taking in the 
windings) of some 800 miles. The south branch of the Fraser has 
its sources near Mount Brown in the Rocky Mountains, in about 
53° north latitude, 118° 40' west longitude. Thence this branch 
flows for 290 miles to Fort George, a post of the Hudson's Bay 
Company. The north branch rises in an opposite direction. It 
receives its supply from a series of lakes lying between 54° and 55° 
of north latitude, longitude about 124° 50' west, and runs a course 
of 260 miles to its junction with the south branch, some miles 



112 

below the 54th parallel of north latitude. Here the union of the 
two branches forms the Fraser River proper. Adding the north 
branch, which is also a gold-bearing stream, and which was 
( worked ' last season, to the other arm, the two will give us a 
continuous stretch of auriferous riverain territory upwards of 
1000 miles in length, extending for many miles back into the 
country on both sides, but not including the tributary rivers 
which fall into the Fraser. In short, the river itself is now known 
to be auriferous, and to pass through a gold-bearing country 
throughout its whole course. Gold is also found in most of the 
tributaries of the Fraser, of which no less than fifty-nine are known. 
The great length of the main river and the number of its tributaries 
will give some idea of the auriferous resources of the country. 

GOLD ON FRASER RIVER. 

" Besides the gold found in the beds and on the shores of these 
streams, the Fraser itself and many of its tributaries are skirted or 
bordered by terraces, all of which yield gold also. These terraces, 
or ' benches,' as the miners call them, run at intervals, along both 
sides of the rivers for miles in length ; and they recede where the 
mountains retire, for distances back into the valleys, varying from a 
few acres to a few miles in breadth. They are objects of curiosity 
and speculation, and add much to the beauty of the rude scenes in 
which they occur, from the regularity and evenness of their structure. 
They generally occur on both sides of the river (opposite to each 
other), at the same place, sometimes at the same elevations on both 
sides, sometimes at different elevations, high on this and low on the 
other side of the river ; and in some places they are multiplied into 
several successive level parallel plateaux, rising one above the other 
as they recede from the bank. These terraces are composed of the 
ordinary alluvial deposits — loam, gravel, stones, sand and boulders ; 
and they are thick masses rising generally to a height of 150 to 
200 feet. 

" This geological formation occurs more frequently on the 
Fraser than on the other rivers. The terraces are also larger on 
the main river, in some cases assuming the proportions of hills, 
all with regular and perpendicular faces. Their formation is per- 
haps due to the fact that the valleys between the mountains were at 
one period filled up, or perhaps formed lakes. Each * bench ' 
may mark successive periods of drainage or subsidence of the water ; 
and their present elevation above the rivers may be due to their 
having been cut away by the rapid-flowing streams. The tumul- 
tuous and swift- flowing Fraser would soon cut a bed for itself (as it 
has done) down to the rock. 

" The terraces contain vast deposits of gold ; and to be worked 
to advantage, the ' bench diggings ' must command a stream of 
water supplied from a source higher than their own surfaces, so as 



113 

to give a fall, to enable the miner to apply the water to the face of 
the ' bench ' by a hose. The force of the stream is due to the 
height of the fall. A good strong stream playing upon the face of 
the hill will disintegrate a great quantity of ' pay dirt ' in a short 
time. The floating rubbish, or ' dirt/ is caught in a long sluice at 
the base, provided with e riffles ' on the bottom, and spread with 
quicksilver to catch the gold. This mode of mining is called by 
the miners e hydraulic mining.' Such is the wealth of Cariboo, 
that no quicksilver was used, for the miner could afford to lose all 
the ( fine dust/ and to be satisfied with the ' lumps.' 

" It happens, fortunately, that Eraser River and most of its 
tributaries supply water in abundance at an elevation which affords 
the necessary fall, from the elevated and broken character of the 
country ; while there are inexhaustible supplies in the numerous 
lakes dispersed ail over the upper district. Timber for the erection 
of f flumes ' is also abundant everywhere. 

" The canal system of British Columbia will be comparatively 
inexpensive, from the abundance of water and its eligibility — encou- 
raging facts to the miner, because the small outlay of capital re- 
quired will keep his ' water dues ' low. 

" A good deal of capital has been already invested profitably in 
' water ditches/ or canals, for the supply of the miners on the 
Fraser, by old miners who had saved money, and by persons un- 
connected with mining. This interest will, in time, become a good 
subject for the investment of English capital, as the mining popula- 
tion increases. 

" In British Columbia, property is fully protected by law, and 
its legitimate profits are secured to the capitalist who has invested 
his money in canals, not more by the operation of the Gold- Fields 
Act than by the existence of a healthy public sentiment. On the 
one hand, while the capitalist is allowed to realize a handsome 
return from his charges for the supply of water, the miner is, on the 
other hand, protected from extortion. Differences do arise, but 
they are always settled in a rational and peaceable way, either by 
appeal to the Gold Commissioner of the district, who has the power 
to take cognizance of such cases, or to the judge of the colony, who 
acts judicially. * 

" Whenever the ' bench diggings ' have been ' worked ' they 
have paid well. They have been neglected for the greater attrac- 
tions of the ' placer diggings/ where the gold is found nearer the 
surface and with less labour. But I consider this class of diggings 
of great prospective value. They will give employment to two 
interests — capital and labour. They are generally situated within 
easy reach of supplies. They are more accessible to all the in- 
fluences of civilization than more interior localities. They are in 
the neighbourhood of some good land, which will enable the labourer 
to alternate his time between mining and husbandry, and where he 



114 

can make his home — the great want which the mines generally do 
not supply. 

RICHNESS OF THE MINES. 

" Although now neglected, the e benches ' will be appreciated 
and come into play when the efflorescence of gold near the surface 
shall have been exhausted. When this happens they will supply 
wealth and a profitable living to a mixed population of miners, 
ditch-owners, traders, and labourers, and that for a long period of 
time, of which no one can compute the numbers of the one nor the 
duration of the other. 

" The reports of the mining this season on the Fraser in the 
space between Fort Hope and Fort George, a distance of about 
270 miles, give the daily individual earnings at all sums between 
3 dollars and 15 dollars. Very little has as yet been done between 
these two points, and very little will be done so long as the attrac- 
tions of 100 dollars to 1000 dollars a day continue elsewhere. I 
will now carry you to other mining localities. 

" The Similkameen mines yielded last season 16 dollars to 17 
dollars a day to the hand occasionally. A party of three men took 
240 dollars in three days' work from { sluice diggings;' and the 
e rocker,' used in ' wet diggings,' yielded 4 dollars, 5 dollars, and 
up to 8 dollars a day to the hand. Number of miners 200, of 
whom 150 were Chinese. A waggon road for 25 miles from Hope, 
and a bridle road of 15 miles in continuation, approach this 
district. 

" Sixty miles further to the southward comes Okanagan. The 
average yield here was only 4 dollars a day, and the miners were 
few — some 26 men, some of whom divided their time between 
mining and husbandry. Okanagan Lake, a beautiful sheet of 
water, in a rich pastoral district, is from 80 to 100 miles long, and 
8 to 10 miles wide, deep, and well suited to navigation. There is 
a small population in the valley, chiefly French Canadians, and a 
Catholic mission. There are two small lakes tributary to the great 
lake, and nineteen streams fall into the latter, of which seven 
yield gold. 

" In the same general direction, and distant from Fort Hope 
150 miles, is Rock Creek, close to the American frontier (lat. 49° 
north), and 60 miles west of the Columbia River. The longitude 
of Rock Creek is 119 J west. This place acquired a temporary 
reputation in 1860 for the richness of its mines, when a consider- 
able population flocked to it and extemporized a town. In 1861 
most of the miners were seduced away by the superior attractions 
of Cariboo, the latest and richest Eldorado yet discovered, so that 
only 30 white men and 225 Chinamen remained. 

" A party of three white men saved in the season 12,000 dollars 
that I know of, after paying expenses ; 100 dollars a day to the 
hand was sometimes made. The average earnings are returned at 



115 

7 dollars a day per man. There are both ' bench* and f wet' 
diggings, and both are productive and extensive. The place is now 
abandoned. 

MINES ON THOMPSON RIVER. 

" There being no more mining localities of any note on the 
southern frontier, we will proceed to the northward and westward 
for about 120 miles, passing on the way several auriferous streams 
flowing southward — and, in fact, in every direction — as well as a 
pastoral and agricultural country of great extent, without comment 
for the present, and get into the heart of the Thompson River 
country, as established by the Hudson's Bay Company, in their 
nomenclature of local divisions of the 'Indian Country.' 

"If you could fancy yourself on the banks of the Thompson, 
you would find it a large, swift-flowing river, rolling with consider- 
able impetuosity between high rocky banks. Near its mouth it is 
too full, too rapid, and too rocky for mining. Its source is not in 
the mountains, but comes from the overflow of a series of lakes dis- 
persed over a large extent of the central portion of the country 
which lies to the eastward of the Fraser, and stretches over more 
than two degrees of latitude, and as many of longitude. It falls 
into the Fraser, after running a ver\ tortuous course of perhaps 100 
miles, at the small town of Lytton, a mining and trading hamlet on 
the forks of the two rivers, 75 miles (above) north, and a little to 
the west of Fort Hope. 

" Several streams flow into the Thompson — the Nieaomeen and 
the Nicola — on its left or east bank. We are now in what may 
emphatically be called the f Lake District.' The last-mentioned 
little river drains two lakes, Nicola Lake and Stump Lake — the first 
eight miles by three, the other much smaller. The next tributary 
is the Buonaparte, on the opposite side — a very important river, 
from its rich auriferous deposits and from the valuable arable soil 
through which it flows. It drains nine lakes, two of which, Loon 
and Vert, are each about 12 miles long. After receiving the 
Buonaparte, the Thompson describes three great tortuous bends, 
which brings it up to Lake Kamloops, which empties into it (I am 
describing the river up stream). Lake Kamloops is 20 miles long 
by five miles wide. From this lake the river continues its course 
to the east and north, receives the waters of the North River, and 
extends to Shushwap Lake, which also discharges into the Thomp- 
son. Shushwap Lake, a fine sheet of water, situated in a rich pas- 
toral country, 45 miles long, 5 to 10 miles wide, and studded with 
islands, receives the waters of two other lakes, which discharge by 
the Barriere River, as well as those of two rivers of considerable 
length, which rise in the range that divides the valley of the Fraser 
from that of the Columbia. The lake is a little below the 51st 
parallel of north latitude, and the 119° of west longitude passes over 

i 2 



116 

the east end of it. Kamloops Lake is about a degree further west, 
and about 12 miles further south. The Tranquille and the Copper 
River both fall into the latter lake. 

" The North River, already mentioned, runs nearly due north 
for a great portion of its course. Correctly speaking, it runs f?°o?n the 
north, but I am describing as if I were ascending the river. This 
river has several tributaries of great length, some rising far to the 
eastward in the watershed of the great valley of the Fraser, and 
others draining a long chain of lakes stretching far up into the 
country beyond the o3rd parallel of north latitude, and embracing 
nearly three degrees of longitude ; while its ' head waters ' flow 
from a range which is the Avatershed of Swamp River, flowing in an 
opposite direction into the Cariboo country. 

" All the streams which I have mentioned are auriferous — those 
which are tributary to the Thompson itself, and those which are 
tributary to its affluents. 

fS Such portions of the Thompson as run through somewhat 
level ground are also auriferous. Seven miles from Kamloops, 150 
miners worked upon one of such portions, and made 16 dollars 
a day to the man, ' rocking ' on the ' bars ' in the bed when the 
river was low. The banks are very extensive, but require water 
ditches for f washing ' them, as they ran high. Tranquille yielded 
7 dollars. 15 dollars, and ^20 dollars a day to ( a crowd of China- 
men.' North River gave S dollars to 10 dollars a day to the hand ; 
and on the Barriere a community of French Canadians made as high 
as 50 dollars a day to the hand. Beyond the portions of North 
River, which have been worked for gold near its embouchure, the 
country hereabouts has not been prospected. This is about the 
centre of the colony, and about SO miles of this space from south to 
north, by about 100 miles from east to west, have not been de- 
veloped. It may be auriferous ; but its character on the face of the 
soil is pastoral. It is a high table-land, which produces abundant 
pasture, free from forest, and only interspersed with timber. Its 
climate in summer is dry and equable, and in winter cold, but not 
severe ; and noted for its salubrity. In fact, the climate of British 
Columbia is good throughout the whole extent of the country, and 
there is no drawback, except from the presence of the mosquitoes 
in summer. These insects are so numerous as to form a pest while 
they prevail. 

" If we could pursue a straight western course from the Fort to 
Fraser River for about 100 miles, we should strike the new town of 
Lillooett, situated at a point where the two great routes of travel 
into the interior meet that from Hope and Lytton by the river, and 
that bv the Harrison Valley and the Lillooett chain of lake. Lil- 
looett is the great final starting-point to the northern mines, and 
beyond that there is no made road, and no other means of trans- 
port than horses, mules, and what the miners expressively term 
' footing it.' 






117 



LILLOOETT GOLD-MINE. 



" Lillooett is distant from the mouth of the Fraser (on the Gulf 
of Georgia) by the river route, via Hope, Yale, and Lytton, 220 
miles ; and by the Harrison route, via Harrison Lake, by steamer, 
Douglas, portages, and four lakes, crossed by steamers, 238 miles. 
The first route commands steamers up to Yale; the rest of the jour- 
ney must be ridden or walked. The other route commands steamers 
to Douglas ; a stage coach thence to Williams's Lake, 29 h miles, on a 
road made along the Harrison River, chiefly by the Royal Engineers; 
an open boat on the first lake of five miles, steamers on the other 
three lakes, which are together 49 miles long, and the portages 
between the lakes and Lillooett, which in the aggregate of the four 
of them are 33 j miles long, can be ridden or walked. Both routes 
afford prospects of beauty and grandeur seldom seen elsewhere; but 
I dare not trespass on your space so far as to describe them, nor 
could I do justice to the subject if I tried. From Lillooett to the 
first or lower Cariboo mines the distance is about 260 miles. 

if A few miles beyond Lillooett, and on the same (the west) side, 
Bridge River falls into the Fraser. Bridge River is very rich in 
gold. The Indians of the neighbourhood make considerable earn- 
ings in it, working in the rudest manner with the most inefficient 
implements. It was here the Bishop of Columbia found them 
making an ounce a day to the hand, as I mentioned in my last 
letter. Nodules of pure copper have been found in the bed of 
the river, indicating the existence of copper veins in the neigh- 
bouring banks. 

CARIBOO GOLD RIVEK. 

" Quesnelle River has two branches, one of which drains 
Quesnelle Lake, lying a degree and a half to the eastward of the 
Fraser, and which is 50 miles long. The other branch drains 
Cariboo Lake, which receives Swamp River and Lower Cariboo 
Lake, into which Keithley's Creek, one of the Cariboo streams, 
empties. At the junction of the two branches, a town, the nearest 
to Cariboo diggings, is built, chiefly for the supply of the latter. The 
place is called ' The Forks of Quesnelle.' 

" Both branches of the Quesnelle are highly auriferous. Mining 
began here in 1859, and led to the discovery of Cariboo, situate 
50 miles further north. The returns for last summer were that nine 
out of ten of the chains paid over an ounce a day to the hand. The 
river-banks enable the miners to work in winter. The diggings 
must be rich to have retained any miners so close to Cariboo, where 
fortunes were made in the course of a few weeks. 

" One grand prominent feature of the country is a chain of 
mountains, which runs from our southern frontier (on 49' north 
latitude) in a north-westerly direction through the country, and, in 
fact, beyond the northern limit of the colony. This range is in 



118 

many parts very lofty, runs nearly parallel to the Eocky Mountains, 
and bears the successive names of the Snowy Mountains, the Bald 
Mountains, and the Peak Mountains, from the height of several of 
the more elevated portions having induced the belief that these por- 
tions were detached mountains, and not parts of a connected chain. 
It is now known that the different eminences, which at a distance 
seem to be isolated, in reality form but one vast range subordinate 
to the Eocky Mountains. It, in fact, forms the watershed of the 
great basin of the Eraser Eiver, one side of which drains itself into 
the valley of the Eraser, and the other into that of the Columbia. 
The whole of this vast range is now known to be auriferous. It has 
been traced for 400 miles, and e fine and coarse gold is everywhere 
found on its western slopes, from Eock Creek in the south to Cariboo 
in the north.' Cariboo itself is but one point in the range. It is 
nearly all in British territory, extending, as already remarked, 
beyond the northern frontier of British Columbia and into the 
Indian territory of Stickeen, to the east of the Eussian possessions 
on the Pacific. It is the longest stretch of continuous inland gold- 
bearing country yet discovered in the world. Its value and im- 
portance are incalculable both to the mother country and to these 
colonies ; for when it comes to be efficiently worked by tunnelling, 
it may continue to produce gold for ages, as long, perhaps, as gold 
retains its value among mankind. Eespecting Cariboo, Governor 
Douglas was good enough to furnish me with the following state- 
ment in writing, taken down by himself from a Cariboo miner, 
Mr. Steele ; but I received it after I had finished my letter : — 

Steele's company. 

" c Steele's company consisted of five partners, of whom Mr. Steele, 
an American, was one. Their claim was on Williams's Creek 
(Cariboo, of course). In the summer they sawed the lumber them- 
selves, and made their own sluices. Their claim did not prospect 
as good as many other claims. Nevertheless, they went at it with a 
will ; made nothing the first three days ; persevered, and the fourth 
day made 4 oz. ; the fifth day, 10 oz. ; and the sixth day, 41 oz. (the 
market value of 41 oz. of gold in sterling is £290. 4s. 2d). From 
that time, after the sixth day's work, when the return rose to 41 
oz. a da;-, it kept increasing, until it reached 387 oz. a day; and the 
last clay's work yielded a return of 409 oz. The five partners 
employed " four hired hands" to assist them to clear away the 
tailings. The claim was one of the most difficult to work, as it 
required eight feet to eighteen feet of top-stripping of superincum- 
bent earth, which covered the auriferous stratum, or " pay dirt." 
This latter was composed of a blue clay, six feet thick, mixed with 
gravel and decomposed slate. The whole area of the mine worked 
was only eighty feet by twenty-five feet, and the yield amounted to 
10-3,000 dollars, equal to £21,875. That so much gold was dug out 



119 

of so small a space as eighty feet by twenty-five feet is a pregnant 
fact. It proves that the wealth buried in this remote region lies 
concentrated in masses thick and plentiful, which is corroborated by 
the shortness of the period of labour — not over two months' actual 
work. This is a short period to have earned £21,875 in, certainly, 
yet the exuberance of the gold of these mines is more clearly demon- 
strated by the rapidity of the accumulation. I shall show tliis result 
more clearly by converting Mr. Steele's gold ounces into American 
currency. The produce of the labour of the first day that the claim 
yielded anything was 68 dollars ; that of the next day., 170 dollars ; 
of the following day, 697 dollars ; and so on, increasing until it 
reached the astounding sum of 6579 dollars in a day ; and culminated 
in a return of 6953 dollars on the " last day's work." 

" ( To prevent any exaggeration in my conversion of the gold- 
dust, I have taken the money value of the ounce at 17 dollars, 
although the average value of Cariboo " dust "is 17 dollars 65 cents 
and 37-1000ths, so that I am under the mark. In other words, this 
company's gold produced to the partners more money in the market 
than I have valued it at. Their gold may have been worth 18 
dollars the ounce.' 

LABOUR IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

" To show still more clearly to English readers the prospects 
and rewards of labour in British Columbia, I will paraphrase Mr. 
Steele's statement, which -will place it in another and, perhaps, 
more practical light. I will suppose that the five miners who owned 
this mining claim were Englishmen, and that they had sent their 
earnings home. The gold would, by the rule of trade, go to the 
Bank of England, and be converted into sterling money — say in 
London. I will deduct all the charges of remitting the bullion 
(gold-dust), and then see what the miners would have, net money, 
in London. The fruit of their first day's f vield' would be 
£13. 10s. 2d. ; of the next day's yield would be £34. 14s. 2d. ; 
the following day's yield, £1343. 4s. 3d. ; and the last day's yield 
would be £1419. lis. 5d. The mines would have been to them a 
prolific mother, for the last day's return shows an increase of 
£76. 7s. 2d. over and above the general run of the yield of ' lucky 
days/ as the miners term their successful and satisfactory periods. 
Mr. Steele's return of the gross yield was corroborated by the 
quantity of gold-dust brought to Victoria, where he remained for 
some time. Indeed, the miners seldom exaggerate their earnings. 
Their general reports take the opposite direction. The partners 
return to their claim in Cariboo in the spring to resume work, and 
they expect to do much better next season, as the mine is already 
well opened. To have made the statement complete, I should have 
mentioned that the four hired men did not share in the profits. 
They were paid 8 dollars a day wages and ( found ; ' and they did 
not work during the whole season. 



120 

" I may assert that there are no low earnings. Here is exactly 
how the matter stands. Some of the Chinamen, while serving their 
novitiate, are satisfied with such poor diggings as yield only 1 dollar 
to 2 dollars a day, but they are soon forced by their taskmasters, 
who paid their exyjenses from China and San Francisco, and for 
whose benefit they labour, and who tax them both for repayment 
of these expenses and for a profit on the venture, to abandon such 
poor diggings for a richer. And as to white miners, not one of 
them will work for the small earnings I have mentioned. If a 
miner cannot fall upon a rich e claim ' he will hire himself to other 
more fortunate claim-owners, who will pay him from 5 dollars to 
10 dollars a day, according to location and circumstances. In this 
way it comes that no poor diggings are worked. The surface of the 
mineral region is being ' skimmed ' — not efficiently worked. But 
by-and-by the miners will be satisfied with ground which they now 
reject. This time is distant, however, owing to the extent of the 
field, unless the country receives a large addition to its mining popu- 
lation. I suppose it would take hall' a million of miners to bring 
the mines into play. It would take a much larger population to 
develop them efficiently. 

" Another cause influences the miner in his conduct. Wages 
generally are high for all kinds of labour. Common labourers get 
3 dollars a day at the lowest ; some get more. Farm labourers get 
£6 a month and are ' found.' I pay an English labourer, whom 
I found working on the roads, £10 a month, and he 'finds' 
himself, for looking after my horse and doing odds and ends about 
the place. This was his pay from the road contractor. Mechanics 
get 5 dollars (£1) a day. With these rates of wages in competition 
with mining, and with the prices of provisions very high in the 
remote mining country j owing to expense of transport, the miner 
naturally abandons poor diggings which yield a low return; so you 
understand why there are no low returns. 

- 1 .My advice to emigrants from the old country will be short, 
and while it can easily be remembered, cannot be misunderstood. 
British Columbia wants two classes only — men with money, and 
men with bodily strength — capitalists and labourers. Both classes 
will do well. The one will find lucrative employment for its 
capital, the other still more profitable employment for its labour. 
If either fails it will be its own fault. Should either of these two 
classes be married, let them bring their v\ ives and families ; the 
more numerous the progeny the better." 

EXPORT OF GOLD IN 1863. 

Allen Francis, Esq., United States Consul at Victoria, Van- 
couver's Island, states that the export of gold from that port during 
the year 1863, as obtained from reliable sources, amounted to 
2,925,170 dollars lb' cents; and lie computes that an equal amount 



1:21 

has been taken away in private hands ; or about (3,000,000 dollars 
as the total export. 

FERTILITY OF SOIL I» THE GOLD NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

Mr. Pemberton says — 

" The fertility of the soil in the neighbourhood of the gold- 
bearing rocks is very remarkable, and is indicated rather by the 
production from ordinary seed of gigantic roots and vegetables and 
fruits, than by crops of grains. 

" An acre of land planted with 200 apple-trees would, at the 
end of three years, on a minute calculation, cost a proprietor from 
£30 to £40, and the lowest selling price of an acre of apple-trees 
of that asre is £200. 

o 

" All along the coast of Vancouver's Island the fisheries may 
be described as beyond value. Salmon and herrings abound to an 
extent almost unknown elsewhere, and mackerel and cod are also 
found. There are also sturgeon, halibut, cod, skate, flounders, 
herrings, dog-fish, and oysters." 

PROGRESS OF THE COLONY. 

The progress of the colony of British Columbia during the first 
four years of its organization, will be illustrated by a statement of 
revenue which is raised almost entirely by customs' duties levied at 
New Westminster or the mouth of Fraser River, and by a mining 
licence of 20s. per year for each man. During the first year of 
the existence of British Columbia as a colony — that is, to the 31st 
of December, 1859 — the customs' duties amounted to £18,464, the 
receipts from other sources being quite trifling. In the succeeding 
year, 1860, the customs' receipts were estimated by Governor 
Douglas at £58,980; other sources, £47,050. One-third of the 
gross revenue is devoted to the construction of roads and bridges, 
which are objects of first necessity in a rugged mining country. 
By the improvement of the roads from the mouth of the Fraser 
River to stations 300 miles distant, the cost of transport has been 
reduced to about 20s. a ton, which is 300 per cent, less than 
in 1860. 

Vancouver's island. 

The Island of Vancouver, with its excellent harbourage 
in Puget's Sound, is in the latitude, and is not unlike the 
climate of Ireland. The coldest weather of the year is in 
December ; but little snow falls, disappearing usually in a few 
days. The frosts which precede and follow penetrate the soil but 
a few inches, and the lakes are covered with ice sufficiently strong 
to bear the skater only during a few weeks. The climate is mild 



122 

and equable, but warmer in summer than in England. Cattle, 
horses, sheep, and hogs, are seldom housed. Probably not more 
than half the surface of the island is adapted to agriculture, but the 
soil is of excellent quality, and all other conditions favourable. 
Wheat, oats, barley, hay, and vegetables are produced, and the 
almost ever-green turf is well suited to grazing. The section of 
country now in course of agricultural settlement is within 60 miles 
of Victoria, the leading town of the island, and is known as the 
district of Courchan. The conditions on which land may be taken 
there, as elsewhere in Vancouver's Island, are easy. A single man 
may pre-empt 150 acres ; a married man, with his wife in the colony, 
200 acres; and for each child under ten years of age, 10 acres 
additional. The Government price for the land is 1 dollar an acre. 
If unsurveyed land be pre-empted, the settler has to pay for it 
when surveyed. If surveyed, he has three years in which to pay 
the purchase-money. Another condition makes it incumbent on 
the pre- emptor to occupy and improve his claim. When 2 
dollars an acre are expended in improvements, the Government 
will make a title ; but not so unless the settler has resided on his 
claim two years. 

COAL-BEDS. 

Vancouver's Island is the naval station of England in the North 
Pacific. The harbour of Esquimault, three miles from Victoria and 
near the Straits of San Juan, is a magnificent haven, fit to shelter a 
whole navy in safety. The forests of the island are an inexhaustible 
resource for ship-building, while the coal-mines at Nanaimo, 60 
miles from Victoria, on the sheltered navigation of the Gulf of 
Georgia, are of the best possible quality — bituminous and extensive. 
The seams now -worked at Nanaimo are respectively 3 feet 10 
inches, 5 feet, and 2 feet 5 inches, and have been traced to the 
north-west extremity of the island, where .Johnson's Straits furnish 
excellent land-locked harbours. Up to 1858 the Hudson's Bay 
Company had, in nine years, taken 6o tons ; but during 1863, 
^'2,000 tons have been exported to San Francisco alone, where it 
found a remunerative sale, though the price at the pit's mouth is 
6 dollars per ton. Behind Nanaimo a remarkable natural cleft, 
known as Albeoni Canal, leads into Barclay Sound, where a London 
firm have established saw-mills, which, during nine months of 1863, 
cut and exported 15,000,000 superficial feet of the finest planking 
from the Douglas and other pines. These details of the coal and 
lumber trade indicate the great advantages of Vancouver for the 
construction, repair, and coaling of vessels. 

Northward of Puget's Sound the coast of British Columbia is so 
broken with fiords and inlets, and sheltered by islands, as to present 
the greatest possible advantages for fisheries and a coasting trade. 
The salmon, herring, and other fisheries of this region will equal 
those of Norway. 



123 



Table of Imports to Victoria, Vancouver's Island, for the Yean 
1861, 1862, and 1863. 





1861. 


18G2. 


1863. 


From San Francisco 


Dollars. 
1,288,359 

228,350 

216,603 


Dollars. 
2,345,066 

224,793 

75,370 


Dollars. 
1,880,117 


From Washington Territory and Puget's ) 

Sound j 

From Oregon 


242,781 
108,603 






Total 


1,733,212 


2,645,229 


2,230,501 






From England 


516,041 
54,382 
31,454 


694,278 
112,108 
32,424 
22,268 
32,170 
17,0u0 


1,432,521 


From Sandwich. Islands 


113,486 


From British Columbia 


65,870 


From China 


45,434 


From Melbourne 






From Valparaiso 












Total 


601,877 


910,248 


1,657,311 







Statement of Exports from the Port of Victoria, Vancouver's Island, during 
the Six Months ending December 31, 1863. 



TO "WHAT PLACE. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 

Dollars. 

16,650 

6,187 

637 


Oct. 


Not. 


Dec. 


Total. 


San Francisco. . . 
Port Angelos .... 

Astoria 

New York .... 


Dollars. 

20,673 

5,970 

945 


Dollars. 

25,015 

0,804 

1,727 

349 


Dollars. 

28,112 ■ 
8,863 
4,208 


Dollars. 

23,217 
3,98S 
2,586 


Dollars. 

25,456 

10,412 

361 


Dollars. 

139,123 

42,024 

10,464 

349 












Total 


27,588 


33,895 


23,474 


40,983 


29,791 


36,229 


191,960 



Statement of the Export of Gold, from Victoria, Vancouver's Island, from 
1858 to 1863, inclusive. 

Dollars. Cents. 

1858. Wells, Fargo, and Co 337,765 17 

1859. Wells, Fargo, and Co 823,488 41 

1860. Wells, Fargo, and Co 1,298,466 00 

1861. Wells, Fargo, and Co 1,340,395 72 

1862. AVells, Fargo, and Co 1,573,096 16 

1863. Wells, Farao, and Co ". 1,373,443 39 

M'Donald and Co., from 1858 to December 31, 1861 1,207,656 00 

1862. Not included in AVells, Fargo, and Co.'s statement. 335,379 00 

1863. Bank of British North America 585,617 85 

1863. Bank of British Columbia 824,876 92 

Hudson Bay Company and others, from 1858 to 

1863, inclusive, approximate 500,000 00 

10,200,184 64 

Shipment of gold by express and on freight during 

the year 1863 2,935,170 16 

Same for the year 1862 2,167,183 18 



124 

Captain Mayne, B..N., in his concluding chapter on British 
Columbia, says : — " As a rule, picking up gold is a mere delusive 
figure of speech. It has to be dug and worked for hardly — with 
primitive appliances often, sometimes with all the resources of 
modern mechanism. Before attempting to describe shortly the vari- 
ous processes of extracting the precious mineral, I may say that they 
all require the aid of water and, with rare exceptions, quicksilver. It 
is the abundant natural supply of water that gives British Columbia 
so great an advantage over California. The country is, as I have 
before said, and as a glance at the map will show, intersected with 
streams and rivers, while lakes of various size abound, the majority 
of which may be easily adapted to the purposes of mining. The 
very height of the hills also, which may be in other respects a dis- 
advantage, proves in this case of use to the miner, who can divert to 
his purpose the torrents which course down their sides. In Cali- 
fornia the want of water has been much felt, and the methods 
resorted to for melting it illustrate as much as anything else in that 
marvellous country the enterprise and spirit of the American 
settler. 

PROSPECTING. 

" The first task of the miner attracted to a new gold country or 
district by the report of its wealth, is f prospecting.' For this 
purpose every miner, however light his equipment may otherwise 
be, carries with him a ( pan,' and a small quantity of quicksilver ; 
the latter to be used only where the gold is very fine. Very little 
experience enables a miner to detect that ' colour ' of the earth 
which indicates the presence of the metallic sand in which the gold 
is found. Wherever, as he travels through the new country, he 
sees this, he stops at once to wash a pan of dirt, and thus test its 
value. Although many diggings are found away from the bank of 
a stream, the river-sides are the places where gold is generally first 
looked for and worked. In saying this, of course I except gold 
in quartz, of which I shall have to speak hereafter. The spots first 
searched are generally those upon the bank of a river, where the 
deposit consists of a thick, stiff clay, or mud, with stones. In some 
cases this is covered with sand, so that the surface has to be removed 
before the ' pay dust' is revealed. All these workings on river- 
banks are called ' bars,' and are usually named after the prospector, 
or from some incident connected with their discovery." 

PANNING. 

When the prospector comes to dirt which looks as if it would 
pay, he unslings his pan from his back, and proceeds to test it. 
This he effects by filling his pan with the earth, then, squatting on 
the edge of the stream, he takes it by the rim, dipping it in the 
water, and giving it a kind of rotary motion, stirring and kneading 



125 

the contents occasionally, until the whole is completely moistened. 
The larger stones are then thrown out, the edge of the pan canted 
upwards, and a continual flow of water made to pass through it, 
until, the lighter portion of its contents being washed away, nothing 
but a few pebbles and specks of black metallic sand are left, among 
which the gold, if there be any, will be found. The rotary move- 
ment, by which the heavier pebbles and bits of gold are kept in the 
centre of the pan, and the lighter earth allowed to pass over its 
edge, requires considerable practice ; and an unskilful prospector 
will, perhaps, pass by a place as not being worth working, that an 
experienced hand will recognize as very rich. The specific gravity 
of the black sand being nearly equal to that of the gold, while wet 
they cannot be at once separated ; and the nuggets, if any, being 
taken out, the pan is laid in the sun, or by a fire, to dry. When 
dry, the lighter particles of sand are blown away ; or if the gold is 
very fine, it is amalgamated with quicksilver. The miners know by 
practice how much gold in a pan will constitute a rich digging, and 
they usually express the value of the earth as " 5, 10, or 15 per 
cent, dirt," meaning that each pan so washed will yield so much 
in money. Panning, it may be remarked, never gives the full value 
of the dirt, as may be imagined from, the roughness of the process. 
If the gold should be in flakes, a good deal is likely to be lost in 
the process, as it will not then sink readily to the bottom of the pan, 
and is more likely to be washed away with the sand. In panning, 
as well as, indeed, in all other primitive processes of washing gold, 
the superior specific gravity of this metal over others, except plati- 
num, is the basis of operations — all depending upon its settling at 
the bottom of whatever vessel may chance to be used." There are 
other modes, such as "rocking," or cradling, which is done by 
placing a box upon rockers. The bottom of the box is provided 
with cleets, which are placed to arrest the passage of the gold ; a 
continual stream of water runs through the dirt, which has been 
placed in the box ; and it is thus disintegrated. Quicksilver is 
sometimes placed on a piece of cloth at the bottom, when the gold 
is fine, and the small particles are thus arrested. 

" Hydraulic mining " and " ground sluicing " are of course more 
intricate, requiring a large capital. To those who desire a compre- 
hensive description of gold-mining in general, we cannot do better 
than recommend Captain Mayne's book on British Columbia and 
Vancouver's Island. 

AGRICULTURE. 

To sum up this chapter, we shall quote the following remarks 
on Vancouver's Island, contained in the Surveyor's Report for 
1860 : — " I am firmly persuaded that, under a common judicious 
system of farming, as good returns can be obtained from these lands 
as in any part of the continent of America. The climate, it may 
be noted, is one especially adapted for the pursuits of agriculture, 



126 

not being subject to the heats and droughts of California, or to the 
colds of the other British American Provinces and the Eastern 
United States. The loamy soils everywhere, possessing a depth of 
two or three feet, and containing a large proportion of the calcare- 
ous principle, are especially eligible for fruit-culture ; and the oak- 
plains around the Sanenos and Quamichan Lakes, with a sandy 
clay subsoil, are exceedingly well adapted for fruit or garden 
purposes. Among the native fruits, the blackberry, mulberry, 
raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry, currant, and high bush-cran- 
berry, would require little pains or culture to produce luxuriantly. 
The varieties of plants are very numerous — a few only were noted 
growing on the plains or meadow lands, among which are the fol- 
lowing : — Wild pea, wild beans, ground-nut, clover, field-straw- 
berry, wild oat, cut grass, wild timothy, reed, meadow grass, long 
spear-grass, sweet grass, high ostrich-fern, cowslip, crowfoot, winter 
cress, partridge-berry, wild sunflower, marigold, wild lettuce, 
nettles, wild angelica, wild lily, broad-leafed rush, and reed-bush. 
The ferns attain a height of six or eight feet, and the grasses have 
all a vigorous growth." 

"We have thus far traced our way from Newfoundland, in the 
Atlantic Ocean, to Vancouver's Island, on the Pacific coast — a dis- 
tance of over oOOO miles of territory ; and such is the extent of the 
Confederacy of British North America. 



\n 



CHAPTEE X. 



THE RAILWAY SYSTEM OF NORTH AMERICA. 

Early Travelling — Steam a Revolutionizer — Length of Railway in England, 
France, and the United States — Opening of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad 
— Professor Mitchell's Testimony as to their Value — Increase in Traffic of 
American Railways — Railway System of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick — 
Canadian Railways — The Inter- Colonial Railway — General Review of the Sub- 
ject — The Duty of England towards the proposed British North American 
Confederacy. 



" Peace has her victories no less renowned than war." 



EARLY TRAVELLING. 

There are a world of pleasant memories connected with the early 
days of travelling during the first quarter of the present century : 
the spanking, dashing, blooded four-in-hand — the gorgeous coach, 
with its artistic decorations — the select and closely muffled quartette 
that delighted in the exclusiveness of the interior — the good-natured 
jovial crowd that ornamented the exterior — the burly, purple- 
faced coachman that so beautifully handled the ribbons — the 
gorgeously dressed guard in his scarlet and gold. It was a fine 
sight indeed to see the Royal Mail coaches dash by at the 
tremendous speed of twelve miles an hour. Merrily did the 
guardsman peal out his notes from the brightly burnished horn, 
sharply did the coachman crack his whip at the splendid leaders, 
and loud were the exclamations of delight that greeted the per- 
formances from the throats of the admiring rustics through whose 
village the coach went rolling on its way. Those were the days 
when the commercial traveller, with his tidy gig, his well-groomed 
horse, and his complete surroundings, was the oracle of interior 
towns ; those were the days when a trip to London from the 
distance of only a hundred miles was an episode in life not to be 
lightly dealt with. Those were the days when gipsies kept high 
carnival on Salisbury Plain, and when Dick Turpin, Jack Sheppard, 
Paul Clifford, and other chivalrous guerillas, relieved gouty mil- 
lionares of their superabundant cash, and played the cavalier to 
young and unprotected females with auburn hair and blue eyes ; 
when loving couples rushed in frantic haste to Gretna Green, 
without the fear of interruption by the electric click that annihilates 
space ; and when news was fresh from across the Atlantic when it 
was two months old. 



128 



STEAM A REVOLUTIONIZER. 

Times have changed ! The age is utilitarian. Iron hands 
impelled by steam never exhaust their strength; thought flashes 
with its intelligence, and electric-lighted tells its story with wings 
more speedy than the flight of time. Morse has stolen the lightning 
which blighted and bruised, and made it the dove-like messenger of 
commerce and the chronicler of daily events. Cugnot, Evans, 
Symington, Murdoch, Blenkinsop, Brunei, and Stevenson, have 
revolutionized the system of locomotion, and opened up a means 
for the absorption of capital, with security for interest, and brought 
the distant boundaries of England within a day's reach of the 
metropolis. Steam power and harmonious locomotion have given 
a throbbing heart to the commodious vessel that speeds over the 
waves; it has saved the human race a world of exhaustive toil, and, 
mighty in its strength, it labours on uncomplaining and unex- 
hausted. The engine upon land and upon the sea is the great 
propeller of commerce and human life. In 1862 there were 9466 
steam-vessels, with a total of 3,153,440 tons, entered the ports of 
Great Britain; and during the same period there were cleared 
8588 steam-vessels, with a total of 3,052,960 tons. 



LENGTH OF RAILWAY IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, ETC. 

Mr. Watkins, M.P., in one of his practical and most sensible 
statements, made a few days since, said that " Great Britain pos- 
sessed 12,006 miles of railway, which had cost £400,000,000, that 
they gave employment to 250,000 men, and that over £12,000,000 
was annually distributed in salaries and wages." 

France possesses over 9000 miles of railway. 

The United States possessed over 33,000 miles of railway on 
the 1st of January, 1865. 

Thirty-five years since the first railway between Manchester and 
Liverpool was constructed, and in that year Stevenson's " Rocket " 
astonished the gaping multitude by running thirty miles an hour. 

Russia has railways through the arctic climes, India is opening 
up her country to the iron labourer, whose shrill whistle cowes the 
lion in his den and the tiger in his jungle. The Red Indian sullenly 
retires before the advancing smoke that is pushing its way through 
his hunting-grounds, and nature opens paths and vistas through her 
choicest abodes. 

The cost to England of her railway system is one-half her 
national debt, yet no one will gainsay every pound spent has not 
been productive of good. 

Great countries, like British North America and the United 
States, can afford to subscribe one-fourth of the value of their real 
estate for the purpose of opening up the country ; and especially is 
this the case in interior countries or states. 



129 

In considering the value of railways in America, we cannot use 
their relative value in Europe as a criterion. Distance, to the 
people of the New "World, is as nothing compared to its importance 
in the Old "World. A Canadian or American thinks nothing of 
packing his carpet-bag after breakfast and leaving Montreal or New 
York for Xew Orleans, or with a little more preparation he pro- 
ceeds to California or British Columbia with less ado than 
an Englishman makes who proposes visiting Baden-Baden or 
Wiesbaden. 

Europe is the market for the lumber of New Brunswick, Maine, 
Canada, and Nova Scotia. The cod-fish of Newfoundland; the 
wheat, flour, and corn of Canada and the "Western States, such as 
Ohio, Illinois, "Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota; the beef, pork, 
and cheese, that the prairies produce in such abundance, all come 
from the "West to the East ; and as communication is opened up, and 
the canal, the steamboat, and the railway pierce the very heart of 
the interior, so finding a market for the productions of the soil, 
stalwart men will plough and reap, grow corn, raise cattle, and con- 
vert a wilderness into a pasture land, and bring your products 

11 From the forests and the prairies, 
From the great lakes of the Northland, 
From the land of the Ojibways, . 

From the land of the Dacotahs, 

From the mountains, moors, and fenlands. 
Where the heron, the shu-shu-gah, 
Feeds among the reeds and rushes." 



OPENING OF THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 

It is some eight years since we were a guest upon the occasion 
of the celebration of the opening of the Ohio and Mississippi Kail- 
road, which' was to unite the East and the West between St. Louis, 
Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland. The celebration was conducted 
on a scale of princely liberality; the guests amounted to over a 
thousand. The tickets gave the holder permission to travel for 
three weeks over a series of lines of railways which reached 9000 
miles. The most eminent men in America composed the happy 
party, who, during this time, travelled through a dozen different 
states, meeting on their way festivals and banquets too numerous to 
mention. Forty-two different lines of railroads were enumerated 
who had joined in the invitation, and from the 27th of May till the 
13th of June, the guests travelled /ree. There was thus an oppor- 
tunity of seeing the country not often presented, and as Americans 
are all " born orators from the age of five years and upwards," we 
enjoyed the occasion to such an extent that we have not ceased to 
remember it to this day, and many of the incidents have been 
treasured in our note-book. It may, perhaps, while speaking of the 
necessity for railways, be proper to quote some of the remarks made 

K 



130 

by the orators who, upon that auspicious occasion, gave vent to 
their opinions and thoughts. 

The Mayor of Baltimore (Hon. Mr. Swann) said : " There is no 
expenditure of capital — there is no employment of labour — there is 
no direction that can be given to the enterprise of your citizens, 
which contributes, or can contribute, more to the value and pros- 
perity of a country, than the construction of railroads through 
densely peopled neighbourhoods, or in regions where nature has 
failed to provide facilities for an easy interchange between convenient 
markets. 

" Situated, as you are here, in the midst of a country unsurpassed 
in all the elements of substantial wealth, you naturally look to the 
readiest market and the highest prices for the productions of your 
soil. Without these, your resources are undeveloped; and your 
career must be more or less retarded by the contingencies to which 
you are exposed, in the absence of artificial aids." 

TESTIMONY OF PROFESSOR MITCHELL. 

Professor Mitchell, the astronomer, related the following incident, 
in reference to a section of country that at this day teems with 
agricultural wealth : — 

" Well do I remember a family with whom I passed a night in 
my early explorations on the banks of the little Wabash. On all 
sides of their cabin stretched the rich and boundless prairie. The 
fertile soil yielded abundant return for the labour of the hard-work- 
ing husbandman. But, alas! the crops were even but partly gathered, 
and a sort of dependent gloom rested on the brow of the sun-bronzed 
farmer. ' Why don't you gather your corn V said I. ' What's the 
use?' was the reply. ' We have gathered and cribbed more than 
enough for our own use. It is utterly impossible to reach a 
market : there is no one to buy, and we have no inducement to 
labour. Our sons and daughters are growing up around us in 
ignorance. The turnpike road has failed; the State works have 
failed ; and now a last ray of hope has been kindled by the talk of 
a great railway from St. Louis to Cincinnati. We have enough of 
everything ; all we want is an outlet. But there seems to be no 
chance, and we are slowly sinking into gloom and despair.' " 

And yet from that very region of country which Professor 
Mitchell referred to only eight years since, and on that railroad 
whose completion we were celebrating, the report of the Secretary 
of the Interior of the United States for I H64 proves that there passed, 
bound to the Atlantic coast, over £10,000,000 worth of freight for 
the year ending 1863 ; and that very farmer who complained of his 
poverty is now one of the largest graziers in the State of Illinois. 

When we hear people grumbling, because their city or village 
subscribed so much towards the construction of some railway that 
brings luxuries to their doors and carries away every bushel of corn 



131 

they can grow, we have no patience with them. They don't like 
the taxes. Why, some men would live without paved streets, gas 
to light their houses, sewers to carry off the elements of miasmatic 
fevers, police to protect themselves and their property, courts of 
justice to decide between right and wrong, and, in fact, an army 
and navy to sustain the national honour, and even a government to 
represent them, because of the taxes. Why, there is not a property- 
holder in Canada or the United States who would not be eventually 
benefited by subscribing, as we have before remarked, the fourth in 
value of all his real estate, and in the interior one-half of all his lands, 
towards the railroads that are under construction. For they may 
rest assured that the agricultural increase of the country will be 
upon an equal ratio with the extension of the railway. 

Look at the saving in time and in labour, and consider the saving 
in expense ! 

INCREASE IN TRAFFIC OF AMERICAN RAILWAYS. 

It is only a few years since that the stock of the Erie Railway 
was as low as 5 per cent, on the face of its value ; to-day it pays 8 
per cent, in gold on its value at par. 

In 1862, the stock of the Hudson River Railroad of New York 
was 30 dollars a share, and paid no dividend. It now pays 7 per 
cent, in gold on 130 dollars per share. 

The receipts of the New York Central Railroad, in 1854, 
amounted to 5,918,355 dollars ; in 1864, they had increased to 
12,997,889 dollars. 

The Illinois Central earned, in 1863, 4,571,028 dollars on a 
capital of 19,000,000 dollars. 

The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, in 1861, on 1090 miles, 
earned £142,492; while in 1863, on 1174 miles, the road earned 
£315,036; and for the first half of the year 1864, £181,791, against 
£133,289 for the same period, from January to June, 1863. 

It will thus be seen that the increase of railways is something 
marvellous in America, and that, however large the expenditure 
of capital, the interest is certain and rapidly increasing ; and we 
have no doubt that, within the next five years, at the present rate 
of increase in traffic and passengers, the Grand Trunk Railway will 
be able to pay a dividend of 7 per cent, on every dollar and pound 
of its capital. There is no company to-day, either in Europe or 
America, which is conducted with more careful economy and more 
splendid ability. The president is one of the most able political 
economists and financial statisticians of the age, and when we know 
he is associated with such colleagues as Thomas Baring, M.P., 
G. C. Glyn, M.P., and Charles J. Brydges, we can have no fears as 
to the future success of that grand system of railway, which sweeps 
along from the great lakes to the St. Lawrence River, over whose 
mighty and tumultuous waters it passes for two miles through the 

k 2 



132 

most magnificent tubular bridge in the world ; then, hurrying on 
across the boundaries of Canada, and in sight of the snow-tipped 
mountains of New Hampshire and the green-plumed forests of 
Maine, it deposits its gathered treasures on the shores of the 
Atlantic Ocean, after traversing a distance of 1174 miles. 

And this brings us to a consideration of the means whereby this 
railroad — already completed, with its connexions reaching so far 
to the west, and with other lines now projected — at one end may 
be continued to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and at the other may 
gradually find its way to those shores where India, Japan, China, 
Australia, and British Columbia are waiting for its coming. 

RAILWAY SYSTEM OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK, ETC. 

The system of railways in British North America consists at pre- 
sent of, viz. :— 

Nova Scotia. — There are 93 miles of railway in Nova Scotia. 
The direct line to Truro is 60 miles, and the branch line to Windsor 
about 33 miles. " The distance from Halifax to Riviere du Loup 
(the present terminus of the Grand Trunk line) is 530 miles ; of 
this, 60 miles is already made — that is, from Halifax to Truro — 
which only leaves 470 miles. This is by the north-shore route. 
By the central route the distance is 478 miles, from which deduct 
82 miles already completed, and we have to be built only 396 
miles. Again, there is the St. John River route, which makes the 
distance from Halifax to Riviere du Loup 593 miles, of which 237 
miles is constructed, and which leaves 355 miles to be made." 

New Brunswick. — The spirit of railway enterprise manifested 
itself in New Brunswick at an early period of the history of that 
means of locomotion. As early as 1844 the first railway was com- 
menced, and continued until it was completed from St. Andrew's 
to Woodstock, a distance of 60 miles. It has been built at less 
expense than almost any equal number of miles on any known 
railway, the total cost being 1,402,748 dollars, or about 16,000 
dollars a mile, or a little over £3000. 

The other railway in New Brunswick reaches from St. John's, 
on the Bay of Fundy, and extends a distance of 108 miles in length 
to Shcdiac, a town on the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. Its cost has 
amounted to 4,548,564 dollars 59 cents, or 42,116 dollars 34 cents 
per mile, equal to £8774. 4s. 7d. sterling per mile. 

CANADIAN RAILWAYS. 

In 1827 the first piece of railway was completed in the United 
States, and in the State of Massachusetts. In 1828 the first portion 
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was constructed. In 1830 the 
first thirty miles of railway in Great Britain were put successfully 
in operation between Liverpool and Manchester. In 1837 the first 



133 

sixteen miles of railway were completed in Canada. At the present 
time she has 1906 miles of railway. 



Statement from Rejiort of Inspector of Hallways. 

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. 

Name of Section. — Main Line. 
Suspension Bridge to Hamilton 
Hamilton to London 
London to Windsor 
Branches. 
Harrisburg to Gait 
Gait to Guelph . 
Hamilton to Toronto 
Komoka to Sarnia . 



Date of Opening. 


Miles 


Nov. 10, 1853 . 


43 


Dec. 31, „ . 


76 


Jan. 27, 1854 . 


110 


Aug. 81, 1854 . 


12 


Sept. 28, 1857 . 


15 


Dec. 3, 1855 . 


38 


Dec. 27, 1858 . 


51 



Total 



345 



GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY. 



Toronto to Guelph . 
Guelph to Stratford 
Stratford to London 
St. Mary's to Sarnia 
Toronto to Oshawa . 
Oshawa to Brockville 
Brockville to Montreal 
Victoria Bridge and approaches. 
Montreal to St. Hyacinthe . . 
St. Hyacinthe to Sherbrooke 
Sherbrooke to Province Line 
Richmond to Quebec . . . . 
Chaudi&re June, to St. Thomas . 
St. Thomas to St. Paschal . . 
St. Paschal to Riviere du Loup . 



Branch — Kingston 



Total 



July, 1856 
Nov. 17, 1856 
Sept. 27, 1858 
Nov. 21, 1859 
August, 1856 
Oct. 27, „ 
Nov. 19. 1855 
Dec. 16, 1859 
Spring, 1847 
August, 1852 
July, 1853 
Nov, 27, 1854 
Dec. 23, 1855 
Dec. 31, 1859 
July 2, 1860 
Nov. 10, „ 



50 

39 

31 

70 

83 

175 

125 

6 

30 

66 

30 

96 

41 

53 



872 



BUFFALO AND LAKE HURON. 

Fort Erie to Paris ..... Nov. 1, 1856 

Paris to Stratford Dec. 22, „ 

Stratford to Goderich .... June 28, 1858 
From temporary terminus to sta- 
tion in East Street .... May 16, 1860 



83 
33 
45 



1-27 



Total 162-27 



134 

But the railroads are so arterial, instead of water, that we must 
pass them over lightly. 

Besides these principal lines, we have the Northern Line, ex- 
tending a distance of 95 miles from Toronto to Lake Huron. 

The London and Port Stanley, from Lake Erie to London. 

The Ottawa and Prescott, from the St. Lawrence to Ottawa City. 

The Montreal a nd Champlain, from Montreal to Rouse's Point, 
a distance of 81 miles. 

The Port Hope, Lindsay, and Beaverton, from Lake Ontario 
northward; the Welland Railway, from Lake Ontario to Lake 
Erie ; and the Brockville and Ottawa. 

The total cost of Canadian railways has been about £20,000,000. 

The Grand Trunk Railway, consisting of 1090 miles of line, 
and including the Champlain Railway, of 1174 miles — the longest 
railway in the world — extends throughout from Portland, State of 
Maine, and from Quebec and Riviere du Loup, in Canada, to 
Detroit, Michigan, forming, in connexion with the other railways 
of Canada and the United States, a direct and continuous route 
between the Eastern States, Canada, and the entire continent of 
America. 

From Detroit there are three lines converging westward, the 
Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad, 188 miles in length; the Michi- 
gan Central, from Detroit to Chicago, 284 miles in length ; and the 
Michigan Southern, between Toledo and Chicago, 246 miles. 
From Milwaukee we have the Milwaukee and Minnesota, ex- 
tending a distance of 199 miles to La Crosse ; thus we have reached 
the extreme western point of that vast network which is in actual 
operation, but which will soon extend its iron ramifications through 
Minnesota to Pembina. The advancing footsteps of the moving 
throng will then cover the valley of the Saskatchewan, mighty as 
the hosts of the Israelites as they advanced towards Canaan. 

THE INTER-COLONIAL RAILWAY. 

To unite Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Canadas by a 
complete and continued railway system, will now be the first duty 
of the provinces. As we have before stated, there is less than 
400 miles required, and the cost is estimated at £3,000,000. 

Now, the combined population of Victoria in Australia, which, 
it must be remembered, has sprung into civilized existence within 
the last fifteen years, is now 550,000, and we find she has spent 
£8,000,000 in railways ; while Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 
with a population of 580,000, have not expended £2,000,000. It 
really seems that there is a want of that energetic action and 
vital enterprise that such a continent as America demands. Look 
at the State of Indiana, in the West. In 1850, she had only 228 
miles of railway; in 1864, she possessed 2500 miles. 



135 



GENERAL REVIEW OF THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN 
CONFEDERACY. 

The magnificent harbour of Halifax is the natural terminus of 
the products of field and forest, of not only British America, but 
might be made the ultimate port of debarkation for the mails and 
passengers of the United States. If we are correct in our know- 
ledge of the history of the various movements made to complete the 
Inter-Colonial Railroad, Nova Scotia has evinced a willingness to 
assume more than her share of its entire cost, and she has, through 
her representatives, proposed various measures, and urged upon her 
sister colonies the paramount importance of this public work, on 
grounds not only of military, but commercial and social importance. 
Millions of acres of land, spread in vast breadth over Nova Scotia 
and New Brunswick, as untrodden, unploughed, and unproductive, 
to-day, as they were when they came from the hands of the Creator. 
In the solitude of their mighty forests, the moose and the elk move 
in stately grandeur, and the heron and the hawk shriek in their 
lonely eyries. Why not pledge these lands instead of allowing 
them to remain idle — why not, at once, without an hour's delay, 
pledge public credit — legislate among yourselves, and, if necessary, 
appeal to the Home Government. The developments of the time 
must operate upon the Ministry at home. They must, if they value 
the interests and the future welware of the British Crown, see the 
policy of fostering your interests. 

It was but a few days since, and during the time we have been 
enabled to spare from the hours of business, that we have seen 
articles which coolly treated of the value of England's colonial 
possessions, and stated that the people were glad to perceive 
evidences that Canada could take care of herself. Now, Canada 
means the whole area in possession of a people extending from the 
verge of Newfoundland to the Pacific shores. British North 
America is one in interest, must be one in future purpose ; and when 
we every day have evidence of the gross ignorance which the mass 
of the people display in reference to America, we are convinced 
that the greatest boon that can be conferred upon all classes of our 
people, is a knowledge of the value of possessions whose wealth they 
must yet learn to appreciate. Man, in his full development, lives — 
of his stature he is proud — the impulses of his heart tingle to his 
fingers' end, and every scintillation of his brain lends arrogance to 
the majesty of his being. Suppose, for one moment, he throws 
himself back in his chair, and contemplates his existence. The 
intellectual thinker may say he can do without hands or feet. His 
brain is filled with wonderful conceptions, and the very pictures 
that people it — his tongue being the willing instrument — he can 
delegate to the practical hand of the expert in drawing or in pen- 
manship. Milton, with his eyes dimmed by blindness, and when 
the poetry of leaf, flower, and sunlight were externally dead to his 



136 

soul, knew that the garden of his heart was brilliant with sweet 
flowers of poesy — that his soul was full of the essence of music, and 
his mind grand with its picture-gallery of thoughts — that his loved 
daughter would labour to photograph and pen-picture it all to the 
world. And so posterity possesses an heirloom that all who speak 
the English tongue refer to with honest pride. But although 
Milton groped in darkness, he did not think for one moment of 
murmuring against the poor blind eyes that once pictured to him 
that world of infinite and varied beauty that lives even after Eden 
has passed away. Neither does the man who labours to supply 
with nutritive power every limb of his body question for a moment 
the relative value of each organ that belongs to him. A bride, 
splendid in the glittering array of her jewels, that delight the eye 
with their beauty, does not idly cast them aside. A king does not 
usually forego the dominion over the least of his subjects. America 
is to-day engaged in the mightiest war whose artillery has ever 
shaken the earth or rolled its echoes along the mountains, simply 
because the United States feels that, in an* allegorical sense, her 
garments would be rent, her giant strength diminished, and the 
fair face of her beauty marred in the eyes of the watching world, 
if she allowed a separation of the body politic. And is England, 
whose colonies are the right-hand maidens that shed radiance along 
her onward path and scatter treasures beneath her advancing foot- 
steps, to turn the cold shoulder upon those who look to her for pro- 
tection I Shall she cast aside and thrust from her four millions of 
people, who speak her language, who glory in her greatness, and 
would imitate her career? No ; rob England to-day of her magnifi- 
cent principalities, and she is an oak stripped of her luxuriant 
foliage, a palace shorn of her sculpture, and a jewel marred of 
the beauty of her surroundings. The future of England is wrapped 
in the glorious success of her colonies, and she can no more forego 
her interest in a people who have supported the brightness of her 
imperial banner, than a father can forego the sympathy and pride 
which he feels when his children carve a new name of honour upon 
the escutcheon of his ancestors. 

Too many of our people wrap themselves in self-confident sur- 
roundings. While reclining beneath the solid arches of their mansions 
they heed not the progress of time, the advancement of the age, the 
new lights of discovery. Revolution is turning like a wheel, and 
eliminating new principles. Wellington, with his smooth-bored 
muskets that echoed the last shot of victory on the field of Waterloo, 
would have passed to his grave that same day in respectable regret 
if three regiments of the opposing force had been armed with 
Enfield rifles. Nelson, with his invincible fleet, whose guns covered 
his flag with victory at Trafalgar, would have been quietly ruined 
by the iron nose of a modern ram. The turning scale at Manassas, 
the ever comico-serious battle of Bull Run, was won by the 
additional strength which the South received by the arrival of " the 



137 

Why, it was a common question to ask twenty years 
since, " if the Americans were all black." How many people 
know that potatoes, turkeys, and tobacco first came from Virginia ? 
How many people know that the bacon, cheese, bread, and corn 
they eat, in a great degree come across the Atlantic ? How many 
know the furs that warm them, the very articles of furniture they 
sit on, the ships they sail in, and the gold they spend, come from 
beyond the Atlantic ? How many think that tea, coffee, sugar, 
and spices, and all the cotton and much of the wool, come many 
thousands of miles, from lands that they know but little of? The 
peoples of Europe are pressing on circumscribed limits, and it 
is better to provide a habitation and a home for them with a link 
still binding them to early memories, early associations, and early 
ties, than it is to allow them to go forth dissatisfied, murmuring, and 
discontented, when they look back, with no pleasant reminiscences 
of the "spot where they were born." 

The newspapers of the day educate the masses in reference to 
the general history of the time better than any other means that we 
know of, and the present war in America has attracted a more 
general attention to that country than heretofore. The late move- 
ments of the various colonies in North British America have also 
added to that interest, and we believe it impossible that those in 
power at this moment can fail to see the vital advantages which 
will accrue to our noblest sisterhood by tying them together with 
iron bands, and making them one in the great object they seek to 
obtain. 



138 



PART II 



CHAPTEE I. 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

Progress and Extent of Territory— Her Natural Beauties, Lakes, Rivers, Prairies, 
and Mountains — English Appreciation of America, and her Sympathy — Her 
Poets, Orators, Historians, and Artists — Peace and Reciprocity — The Blessings 
of Peace — The Reciprocity Treaty — Its Results and Mutual Benefits — Its Con- 
tinuation desirable. 

PROGRESS AND EXTENT OF TERRITORY. 

On that continent where four millions of people flourish under 
the dominion of British authority, and extend their sway across 
from one oceanic shore to the other, speaking the same language, 
actuated by the same impulses, and looking forward with like fervour 
to a glorious career in the coming centuries — so there is another 
body of people occupying a vast tract of territory, which extends 
from the southern shores of the St. Lawrence Hiver and the lakes 
to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific 
Ocean. They number over thirty millions, their commerce floats 
on every sea, their products find their way into every land, they 
speak the same language, they possess almost the same judiciary, 
and their habits and customs closely assimilate with their more 
northern neighbours. Their career has been the most splendid of 
any that adorns the page of history during the last eighty years. 
From a population of three millions they have increased to thirty 
millions; from eleven states to thirty-four, besides territories, which 
will soon obtain the dignity of sending senators and representatives 
to the marble chambers of the capitol. Their country is a bound- 
less mine of wealth ; their resources inexhaustible ; their climate 
varied and delightful ; their people progressive, intelligent, in- 
ventive, brave, and ambitious. If they are vain, they have much 
to be vain of ; for if you speak to them of the beauty of other lands, 
they point with honest pride to their own. Speak of the Thames, 
the Rhine, or the Seine; they tell you of the Mississippi, commencing 
as a rivulet in Minnesota, yet stretching 2000 miles in length from 
its source to the sea. They tell you of the varied and delightful 
country through which it pabses — of the charming pictures of Minne- 
sota — of the forest-crowned cliffs of Missouri — of the wide fields of 
golden wheat and corn, and the flowering prairies of Illinois — of 
the white-plumed cotton and the nodding sugar-cane of Louisiana, 
and the crimson cactus and perfumed magnolia that ornament the 



139 

shores of Arkansas — of the Alabama River, that passes through a 
wilderness of tropical beauty — of the Hudson, whose palisades, 
whose receding shores, whose abrupt and overhanging rocks, whose 
gentle pastoral slopes, and whose lovely nooks Washington Irving 
and N. P. Willis, in their love of poetry and its surroundings, made 
their home. Speak you of mountains ! The navigator who seeks 
her shores beholds the snow-clad caps of the White Mountains, from 
whose lofty peaks he may survey such a panorama of world-wide 
beauty, that language fails to describe. The Blue Mountains of 
Vermont are the pride of all eyes whose vision reaches their extent. 
The Cattskill Mountains afford a feast of Nature's wayward loveli- 
ness, that, once seen, lives in the mind a dream of joy for ever. 
The Alleghanies — jagged, yawning with chasms, a mountain of con- 
fused masses of iron, stone, and slate thrown with inextricable con- 
fusion into a shapeless line, and forming a catalogue of pines, pre- 
cipices, rocks, torrents, ledges, overarching trees, and all the 
elements that make one " feel the sublimity of stern solitude." We 
know them all. Those beautiful glades, or mountain meadows, are 
not connected in a level field like the western prairies, but lie in 
unbroken outlines, with small wooded ranges between them, or 
jutting out from their midst in moderate elevations. But all is 
wealth — there is wealth everywhere in America. Tip the eastern 
edge of the Alleghanies; descend, and enter the highland basin of 
the old mountain lakes, which extends over many thousand acres, 
and is known as the " Glades." There the Tonghigheny takes its 
rise, while the dividing ridge of the great Backbone sends the water 
on one side into the Gulf of Mexico, and on the other into the 
Chesapeake River. Travel half way across the continent, and the 
Sierra Nevada proudly raises its head, a king among the minor 
mountains that dwell around her. 

Look at her lakes ! Bulwer would never have wasted his word- 
picturing on the Lake of Como (though Byron wooed his Maid of 
Athens there) if he had seen Lake George or Lake Champlain. 
Then when you speak of vastness and extent : the great lakes of the 
interior are rocked by storms as mighty as those that disturb the 
ocean, and drive the canvas-winged vessel on the pitiless rocks. 

Talk of territory ! Breadth, extent, and depth are to be found 
in all their meaning here. The prairies are a rolling sea of varied 
beauty, wide-sweeping in excellence. The Indian corn, that so 
gracefully bends its serried phalanx to the toying wind, presents a 
scene not easily to be forgotten. The forests are royal with oaks, 
beeches, walnuts, and magnolias. The rivers and lakes are alive with 
trout, and waste themselves in cascades and falls after furnishing pools 
for the fish. The cities are the centres of commerce and civilization, 
vital with a moving throng of men, and alive with queenly beauty. 

Talk of gold ! California, Colorado, and Arizona have sent their 
golden tributes to make up the sum of the world's auriferous wealth. 

The progress of America has been a marvel; and while she 



140 

carried in her right hand as emblems the symbols of progressive 
civilization, who so proud as we to watch her increasing prosperity? 

ENGLISH APPRECIATION AND SYMPATHY. 

America does the people of England a gross wrong when she 
accuses her of a jealousy of her success ; on the contrary, we have 
hailed every new stride in her onward career with pride and satis- 
faction. If she has referred to England as the England of Shakes- 
peare, Raleigh, and Sidney ; to England as the grand old mother of 
bards, heroes, and sages, who has sat crowned among the nations 
a thousand years — when her orators have said they were proud to 
speak our tongue, to re-enact our laws, to read our sages, to sing 
our songs, and to claim our ancient glory as part of their own ; 
and spoke of her as the stormy cradle of their nation, the sullen 
mistress of the angry western seas, and said that their hearts went 
out to her across the ocean, across the years, across old wars, and in 
love and reverence — we were proud of their language, of their 
sentiments, of their lingering love for all that made us noble. 
Remember the Hudson was named after one of our heroic naviga- 
tors ; the commercial centre of their country was called after the 
city of York. There are Kings' and Queens' Counties in their 
States, while one of the richest corporations that extends the bene- 
fits of Christianity over that country is supported to-day by the 
bounty of Queen Anne. 

The Smithsonian Institute at Washington, that annually scatters 
abroad the results of scientific discovery, is the gift of an English- 
man. Virginia is surrounded with a web of romance. Here Sir 
Walter Raleigh gave its title after Elizabeth the memorable and the 
mighty. Here the gentle Indian Princess Pocahontas won the life of 
the gallant Smith by touching the heart of Powhattan. Here Wash- 
ington was born, and here, on the banks of the Potomac River, in 
the sacred precincts of Mount Vernon, his ashes repose. The haw- 
thorn hedge blossoms here in pink and white ; the holly ornaments 
herself with coral berries in the deep recesses of her shaded pines, 
and the mistletoe showers her pearl- shaped berries, though she 
clings from many a tree in blood-stained, war- stricken Virginia. 

Tell us the time, the day, or the hour, that we have failed to 
appreciate all that is good and noble in American character. If 
Tennyson is our poet-laureate, are not the beauties of Longfellow 
as much appreciated, and are not their works found equal one with 
the other in the select libraries of our land ? Yes ! and Bryant, 
Lowell, Willis, Holmes, and Whittier, occupy an honourable posi- 
tion wherever poetry finds her devotees. 

In law, Kent, Story, and Taney, are respected as monuments of 
legal acumen. 

As orators, Patrick Henry, Clay, Webster, and Calhoun, hold 
an equal place with Burke, Sheridan, Fox, and Pitt, on the tablet of 
fame. 



141 

There is not an educated Englishman who does not accord, 
and. most willingly, his appreciation of every contribution to 
science, history, or the arts, made by America. Washington Irving 
and Hawthorne are as widely read by the hearthstones of old 
England as they are by the firesides of the people of New York or 
Massachusetts. Have we failed to do honour to the greatness and 
goodness of George Washington? Are not Bancroft, Prescott", 
Sparke, and Motley, respected as historical authorities ? 

Amid the congregated works of art that adorned the Palace of 
Industry in 1851, who received from our people a higher meed of 
praise than Powers ? We know his " Greek Slave," his " Eve," 
his "Fisher Boy," and all his other cunning art-chisellings ; and we 
know Palmer's " White Captive," and have ourselves lingered 
many an hour over its perfect beauty. 

In the National Gallery, in the Palace of St. James, and the 
Castle of Windsor, whose works hold a higher place than those of 
Benjamin West? 

Cole's " Voyage of Life " and his fi Dream of Arcadia," 
Gigrioux's " Niagara," Church's " Niagara," his " Heart of the 
Andes," and his " Icebergs," have drawn crowds of our people, 
who have lingered long and lovingly over these pictures on the 
canvas. 

Did not our own Queen show her appreciation of a noble gift 
when she accepted in person from Lieutenant Harsteine the last 
ship that went in search of Franklin ? Do we fail to mention in 
terms of respect the names of Kane, of Maury, or of Peabody ? 
Have the great newspaper representatives of Europe allowed any 
national prejudice to bias them, when every sheet they send broad- 
cast to the world passes over Hoe's American press ? 

England is not, nor ever has been, jealous of the increasing 
power or the splendid prosperity of America. Why, the whole 
heart of England beat with joy when her people, from the palace 
to the humblest cottage, read of the magnificent reception accorded 
to the Prince of Wales. America then was the refuge of the 
expatriated ; her land was as free as the flight of the eagle ; her 
prosperity approached the marvellous ; her wealth was increasing 
beyond parallel ; her people multiplied and spread from one ocean 
to the other ; her flag that floated on every sea was the symbol of 
the mightiest Republic that ever swayed power ; and her future 
was a theme that her orators could not find language brilliant 
enough to picture. Alas ! the sky became overcast — the sun of her 
prosperity travelled behind the gathering clouds. The scythe of 
death was about to gather in her fearful harvest, and the wail of the 
widow and orphan was soon to be heard in places where mirth and 
gladness had long held their dwelling-places. The roll of the drum, 
the heavy tread of armed men, the ringing of alarm bells, the rattle 
of musketry, the roar of artillery, and the flaunting of defiant 
banners, announced the nation was in arms. 



142 



PEA.CE AND RECIPROCITY. 



For four long years a terrible and dreadful war has desolated 
and devastated the fair face of her beauty. Its details have been 
read with sorrow and regret, and to-day no announcement 
would be received with more unselfish pleasure than the news 
of peace. 

Oh ! how peace would bless the land again. The shouts of 
thankful voices would rush in great echoes through the valleys and 
along the mountain's side until its music pierced the very sky ; 
mothers' hearts would beat quick with tremulous joy as they wel- 
comed back their bronzed hero-sons ; sisters would proudly lean 
upon the arm of brothers whose deeds crowned them with glory ; 
wives would clasp to heart the long and weary absent one, warm 
kisses would glow upon his hungry lips, and, while bright smiles 
irradiated his face, fond arms would fold him in safety and peace, 
and kind soothing words would fall as soft as sweetest music on his 
listening ear. Dear children — God's ungrown angels — would shout 
hosannas of welcome. The desolate valleys, where the tread of 
armed men had crushed down all vegetable existence, would again 
teem with verdant life. Violets would slily peep out from beneath 
some fallen leaf and gaze bright-eyed upon the sun. Persecuted 
wanderers would return home from their hiding-places in the 
mountain. Poor suffering and maimed warriors would raise them- 
selves from their cots and thank God in brief but earnest prayer. 
The dark and profound dungeons would be bathed in light, and the 
gates would open wide for freedom to step in. Soldiers would re- 
turn crowned with bays and laurels. Banners, war-torn and bullet- 
rent, would be laid aside until the dust of time obliterated their 
memory. The rifle, the cannon, and the sword would be but 
curiosities adorning the farmhouse, the villa, and the museum — 
reminders of the past and warnings for the future. The plough 
would be guided by the soldier, once more the peasant, and 
the birds would warble their songs as music for him all the 
day long. 

BLESSINGS OF PEACE. 

Peace on the battle-field ; peace on the mountains, plains, and 
valleys ; peace on the vast ocean, where the great ships may sail in 
security ; peace on the lakes, where the barque and the steamer 
may bear the products of the soil; peace all over, blessing the 
labourer, the mechanic, the merchant, and the mariner. We shall 
rejoice to see its advent, and to see corn and cotton kiss each other; 
and we would live in peace with America — we would see our 
colonists growing, increasing, and prospering by the side of their 
great neighbour, and carrying on a generous rivalry with a cordial 
reciprocity not only of commerce, but of honest, sincere, and lasting 
friendship. 



143 



THE RECIPROCITY TREATY. 

It is with feelings of profound regret — and we are sure these 
feelings are shared in by all who desire the kindly relations which 
have existed so long between the United States and the British 
American Colonies to continue — that we have observed the late 
evidences of misunderstanding, that have called forth crimination 
and recrimination between them. The causes which have operated 
to engender the bitter feeling lately displayed by the United States 
towards Great Britain, as well as Canada, we are assured have been, 
or will soon be removed ; and that, as a result, the hasty legislation 
which has characterized the Government of the United States will 
be followed by tmtt enlarged policy which should actuate a great 
and friendly people. The Reciprocity Treaty, which for ten years 
has existed between them, we think the figures will show to be 
mutually advantageous ; and we are supported in this belief by the 
resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce in New York, Chicago, 
and Detroit, and by the statements of Uriited States Senators. 

LEADING POINTS OF THE TREATY. 

The following are the leading points of the treaty : — 

I. The inhabitants of the United States possess, under the Reci- 
procity Treaty, the right to take fish of any kind, except shell-fish, 
on the sea-coast and shores, in the bays, harbours, and creeks, of 
any of the British Provinces, without being restricted to any distance 
from the shore, with permission to land upon the coasts and shores 
of those provinces for the purpose of drying their nets and curing 
fish. 

II. British subjects possess, in common with the citizens of the 
United States, the liberty to take fish of any kind, except shell-fish, 
on the eastern sea-coasts and shores of the United States north of 
the 86th parallel of north latitude, with the same privileges as 
to landing on the sea-coast as are enjoyed by American citizens 
in the British Provinces. 

III. Certain articles, being the growth and produce of the 
British Colonies, or of the United States, are admitted into each 
country free of duty respectively. (The most important of these 
articles are — grain, flour, bread-stuffs, animals ; fresh, smoked, and 
salted meats ; fish, lumber of all kinds, poultry, cotton wool, hides, 
ores of metals, pitch, tar, ashes, flax, hemp, unmanufactured tobacco, 
rice, &c.) 

IV. The right to navigate the river St. Lawrence and the canals 
of Canada is equally enjoyed by the citizens of the United States 
and the British Provinces. This right extends also to Lake Michi- 
gan ; and no export duty on lumber cut in Maine, and passing 
through New Brunswick to the sea, can be levied. 



144 



ITS MUTUAL ADVANTAGES. 



Now no candid observer will fail to perceive the advantage to 
the United States over that which the British Provinces possess in 
regard to the fisheries. The best fishing-grounds on the American 
coast are certainly in the neighbourhood of Newfoundland, Nova 
Scotia, and New Brunswick ; and a more generous provision was 
never accorded in any treaty than the throwing open of fishing- 
grounds which have been so long a mine of wealth to the provinces. 
It also put an end to a question of right or property which was 
fruitful of mischief. The Hon. Charles Sumner, United States 
Senator from Massachusetts, lately said, " The fisheries have been 
a source of anxiety throughout our history. Even from the begin- 
ning, and for several years previous to the Reciprocity Treaty, they 
had been the occasion of mutual irritation, verging at times in posi- 
tive outbreak. The treaty was followed by entire tranquillity, 
which has not been for a moment disturbed. This is a plain advan- 
tage which cannot be denied." Why seek, then, to disturb these 
pleasant and harmonious relations by abrogating the treaty ? 



INCREASE OF TRADE. 

The increase of trade has been wonderfully influenced by the 
Reciprocity Treaty. Between the years 1857 and 1862, the ship- 
ping of the United States which cleared for the British Provinces 
was 10,056,183 tons, and the foreign shipping which cleared during 
this same period was 7,391,399 tons; while the shipping of the 
United States which entered at the United States custom-houses 
from the British Provinces was 10,056,183, and the foreign ship- 
ping which entered was 6,453,520 tons. 



Exports from the United States to both Canada and the Provinces, with the 
total Imports from both. 



Fiscal Year 


Domestic 


Foreign 


Total 


Imports. 


ending — 


Exports. 


Exports. 


Exports. 


1853 . , 


, 7,404,087 


5,736,555 


13,140,642 


7,550,718 


1854. . 


, 15,204,144 


9,362,716 


24,556,860 


8,927,560 


1855 . . 


15,806,642 


11,999,378 


27,806,020 


15,136,734 


1856 . . 


22,714,697 


6,314,652 


29,029,349 


21,310,421 


1857 . . 


19,936,113 


4,326,369 


24,262,482 


22,124,296 


1858 . . 


. 19,638,959 


4,012,768 


23,651,727 


15,806,519 


1859 . , 


, 21,769,627 


6,384,547 


28,154,174 


19,727,551 


1860. . 


18,667,429 


4,038,899 


22,706,328 


23,851,381 


1861 . . 


, 18,883,715 


3,861,898 


22,745,613 


23,062,933 


1862 . . 


18,652,012 


2,427,103 


21,079,115 


19,299,995 


1863. . 


28,629,110 


2,651,920 


31,281,030 


24,025,423 



145 . 

In the three years immediately preceding the treaty, the 
total exports to Canada and the other British Provinces were 
48,216,518 dollars, and the total imports were 22,588,577 dollars. 
In the ten years of the treaty the total exports to Canada and the 
British Provinces were 256,350,931 dollars. The total imports were 
200,399,786 dollars. The total exports to Canada in the three 
years immediately preceding the treaty were 31,866,865 dollars, 
and the total imports were 6,587,674 dollars, while the whole 
exports to Canada alone, during the ten years of the treaty, were 
176,371,911 dollars, and the total imports were 161,474,347 
dollars. It will be perceived by these figures that the British 
Provinces have consumed and paid the United States 56,000,000 
dollars, or over £11,000,000 sterling, during the ten years, over 
the amount they exported to the United States. During the year 
1863 the British Provinces paid 6,555,485 dollars in gold coin, 
instead of paper money, which is current in America. 

RAILWAY TRAFFIC. 

Look again at the traffic upon the American railways from 
Portland and Boston to the Canadas. It shows that over one-third 
of the import trade of Canada enters now at United States ports, 
and is transported over their railroads under bond. 





Imports via United States. 


Imports via St. Lawrence 


1855 . 


. 4,463,774 dollars. . 


. 12,738,373 


dollars. 


1856 . 


. 4,926.922 


j? 


. 16,989,513 


)) 


1857 . 


. 5,582.643 


JJ 


. 14.378,094 


}» 


1858 . 


. 2,057.024 


}> 


. 10.768,161 


jj 


1859 . 


. 4.546.491 


!J ' 


. 11.472.754 


33 


1860 . 


. 3.041.877 


33 


. 13.527.160 


)> 


1861 . 


. 5,688,952 


7 J 


. 16,726,541 


:i 


1862 . 


. 5.508.427 


J5 


. 17,601.019 


33 


1863 . 


. 6,172,483 


3J 


. 16,439,930 


33 



Speaking in reference to this subject, Mr. Sumner said : — 
" There are also railroads furnishing prompt and constant means of 
intercommunication which have gone into successful operation only 
since the treaty. It would be difficult to exaggerate the influence 
these have exercised in quickening and extending commerce. / 
cannot doubt the railroad system of the two countries has been of 
itself a Reciprocity Treaty mare comprehensive and equal than 
any written parchment" Then why allow the passion and the 
excitement of the moment to control your judgment, and why 
attack a treaty which is increasing and will increase railway com- 
munication every hour. Consider for a moment the produce and 
passengers that pass each day across the boundaries of the two 
countries, and which will continue if the two peoples can live in 
harmony. Not only will there be a railway system between 

L 



146 

Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada, between New 
York, Boston, and Montreal, Ogdensburg and Ottawa, Buffalo and 
Hamilton, Toronto and Rochester, Toronto and Detroit and 
Chicago ; and not only will the St. Lawrence and the Niagara be 
bridged by the Grand Trunk and the Great Western Railway, but 
St. Paul, Pembina, and the Red River Settlements, British 
Columbia and Washington Territory, Oregon and California, will 
alike have their system of railways, canals, and river navigation 
interlinking one with the other, until freight, starting first in 
American territory, and passing up the Columbia River, will reach 
British Columbia, thence, crossing the Rocky Mountains, it will be 
carried across the fertile plains of Central British America again 
across the boundary-line at Pembina, through the State of Minnesota, 
to Fond du Lac, and thence, by the Great Lakes and the St. Law- 
rence, reach the ocean, or continue by railroad through Wisconsin 
and Michigan, till it again reaches British territory, and the Grand 
Trunk line hurries it along either to Portland in Maine, or Halifax, 
Nova Scotia. 

But the importance of reciprocity of trade is mutual in every 
respect ; it not only involves national comity, but it suggests 
equality, exchange, and equity. It is urged by the United States 
that Canada receives the larger amount of custom; but the reason 
is because, as we have before stated, Canada has taken in excess 
58,000,000 dollars of goods and produce within the last ten years. 
Is it nothing for the United States to have the free navigation of 
Canadian canals, the St. Lawrence River, and an equal right to the 
unsurpassed fishing-grounds of Newfoundland? The Canadian 
people were the people that grumbled in the beginning ; they 
believed the provisions were entirely in favour of the United States, 
and that belief is shared in by the people of the United States most 
interested. Ask the people of Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin, Mi- 
chigan, and Minnesota. Senator Ramsay, of Minnesota, and Senator 
Howe, of Wisconsin, strongly opposed its repeal. 

TRAFFIC ON THE CANALS. 

Let us now glance at the exchange of traffic on the canals. The 
table of trade through the Canadian canals shows that in 1861 there 
passed through from the lakes to the Canadian ports a total of 
217,892 tons; to United States ports, 427,521 tons. In 1862, to 
Canadian ports, 28.5,192 tons ; to United States ports, 471,521* tons. 
In 1868, to Canadian ports, 298,436 tons; to United States ports, 
441,862 tons. The Westward or Upward trade shows that in 1861 
there was a total of 10,185 tons to Canadian ports, while during the 
same period there was 116,240 tons to American. In 1862, to 
Canadian ports, 14,908| tons; United States, 171,673^ tons. In 
1863. to Canadian ports, 67,478 tons; to United States ports, 
323,244 tons. 



147 



Exports to Canada of Wheat, Flour, Indian Com, and Meal, for the 
Fiscal Years 1S4 ( .) to 1863, inclusive. 



Ykars. 


Wheat. 


Wheat 


Flovr. 


Indian 


Corn. 




3§ 


Bushels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Bushels. 


Value. 


a r 

CJ o 


££ 


1849 


140,696 
78,610 


$ 112,086 
58,968 


19,127 

29,138 


S 78,129 
132,509 


40,621 
89,604 


$ 20,265 
42,113 


S 5,355 
3,813 


S 215,835 


1850 


237,403 


1851 


208,130 


150,288 


51,716 


11)1,750 


88,306 


39,153 


6,873 


387,764 


1852 


360,405 


288,808 


38,888 


127,068 


98,898 


38,681 


8,684 


413,241 


1853 


40,434 


26,835 


46,835 


175,648 


151,416 


72,462 


303 


275,248 


1854 


125,525 


155,035 


82,028 


472,274 


1,206,207 


729,927 


17,107 


1,374,973 


1855 


240,874 


365,772 


58,993 


494,081 


1,074,869 


708,426 


30,761 


1,599,040 


1S56 


991,648 


1,370,971 


102,611 


1,341,743 


1,736,131 


1,057,222 


110,162 


3,880,09S 


1857 


1,655,641 


1,867,457 


118,857 


717,245 


1,161,088 


673,989 


160,185 


3,418,846 


1858 


2,673,947 


2,082,648 


326,045 


1,681,072 


486,999 


298,879 


135,683 


4,198,282 


1859 


1,352,252 


1,178,560 


287,772 


1,666,546 


663,918 


439,125 


226,407 


3,510,638 


1860 


1,120,975 


1,010,681 


246,359 


1,253,278 


827,621 


522,693 


126,487 


2,913,139 


1861 


4,148,029 


3,871,233 


83,617 


444,803 


1,891,740 


810,346 


46,206 


5,172,588 


1862 


4,538,472 
6,512,801 


3,801,515 
6,717,093 


118,643 
232,160 


536,756 
1,103,171 


3,218,438 
4,211,897 


1.010,243 
1,622,825 


68,339 
145,301 


5,416,853 


1863 


9,588,390 



Exports to Canada, 1863. 



Places. 


WHEAT. 


WHEAT 


ELOL T It. 


Bushels. 


Yalue. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


From Lake Ports of Ohio .... 
,, Detroit 


1,428,511 

345,075 

1,519,396 

2,880,791 


Dollars. 

1,505,015 

363,746 

1,502,575 

3,029,649 


895 
39,059 
78,749 
40,069 


Dollars. 

3,769 

220,940 


,, Chicago 


340,S50 


,, Milwaukee 


172,020 








6,173,773 


6,400,985 


158,772 


737,579 



Imports from Canada, 1863. 



Places. 


WHEAT. 


WHEAT FLOL'E. 


Bushels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


At Vermont 


26,739 
17,877 

135,628 
75,521 

360,405 
54,104 
20,652 

267,32S 


Dollars. 
27,691 
18,120 

133,933 
78,651 

375,308 
60,544 
21,076 

291,896 


112,557 
11,585 
15,993 
46,718 
47,303 
52 
81,822 
93,323 


Dollars. 

590,741 

53,641 


,, Champlain 


,, Cape Vincent 

,, O ardensburcc 


90,998 

249,298 

248,081 

264 


„ Oswego 

,, Genesee 


,, Niagara 


383,267 


,, Buffalo . , 


557,189 






958,254 


1,007,219 


393,360 


2,173,479 



L 2 



148 



GOOD FEELING. 



Let us continue these peaceful relations. If there are Glauses 
in the treaty which seem unjust or inequitable, let a proper com- 
mercial convention revise them. Do not, for a mere minor con- 
sideration, abrogate entirely a treaty whose general provisions are 
enlightened, fairly reciprocal, and mutually beneficial. There is 
not a clause which is ineradicable. If in the temple erected we 
have used a few worthless stones, remove them and replace them 
by others more worthy to compose it, but do not tear down a struc- 
ture which has stood so long, and which was not the labour of an 
idle hour. 

Cousin Jonathan, 3^011 are angry ! Domestic quarrels have irri- 
tated your feelings. You think that Old England has permitted 
and countenanced evil doings on Canadian soil. Lord Palmerston 
says you have cause to be irritated, that the causes shall be removed 
and reparation made. Now it will be all right. It is no use 
tearing down each other's fences and letting stray cattle and 
poachers in. Let existing treaties remain. Canada will protect 
her soil, and she will see that in future her hospitality is not abused. 
We don't want gunboats on lakes, we don't want a passport system, 
and we don't want old customs restored in this enlightened age. 
But we want to carry on and continue that mighty interchange of 
commercial products which mutually enriches and strengthens us ; 
we want to see the whole continent of America moving along in 
harmonious fellowship, and governed by reason, dignity, and 
justice. 



149 



CHAPTEE II. 

THE UNITED STATES. 

Primary Object of the Book— Captain Palisser's Testimony — Route wholly through 
British Territory impossible — The only feasible Route, by way of Michigan and 
Minnesota to Hudson's Bay — Wealth'of the Western States — Ohio : Products 
of Agriculture ; Railways — Indiana : Area, Population, Progress of the State, 
Agricultural Products, Manufactures, and Railways — Michigan : General Sta- 
tistics, Products of Agriculture, the Cereal Products, Miscellaneous Crops, and 
Railroads — Wisconsin : Topographical Features, Railroads, Products of Agri- 
culture, Valuation and Taxation — Iowa : Agricultural Wealth, Increase, Rail- 
roads — Illinois : Agricultural Progress, Valuation and Taxation, Railways, 
and Number, Extent, and Cost of all the Railways in the United States. 



PRIMARY OBJECT OF THE BOOK. 

The primary object of writing the present volume was to gather 
and collect all the information which various authorities presented 
in reference to the future prospects of the proposed British North 
American Confederation, and to point out the importance of at 
once constructing a road across the continent to British Columbia. 
It being impossible to do this wholly and entirely within the 
boundaries of the Canadas, the natural and physical features pre- 
senting insuperable obstacles, and there being no population which 
could maintain the cost of such a road, and no soil adapted to sup- 
port a population for hundreds of miles until you reach the region 
of the Lake of the Woods, it becomes necessary to consider the 
most practicable manner of doing it, and what territories possess the 
best means of assisting in the burden of its construction till we 
reach the splendid region of the Red River country and the 
prairies of the Saskatchewan. 

CAPT. PALISSER'S TESTIMONY. 

Capt. Palisser states in his Report, under date July 8, 1860 
(page 22 of Blue Book) :— 

" The difficulty of direct communication between Canada and 
the Saskatchewan country, as compared with the comparatively easy 
route through the United States by St. Paul's, renders it very 
unlikely that the great work of constructing a road across the 
continent can be solely the result of British enterprise." 

When asked by the Duke of Newcastle to state his opinion in 
reference to the direct continuation of a railway through British 
territory, he answers : — " As a line of communication with the Red 
River and the Saskatchewan prairies, the canoe route from Lake 
Superior to Lake Winnipeg, even if modified and greatly improved 



150 

by a large outlay of capital, would, I consider, be always too arduous 
and expensive a route of transport for emigrants, and never could 
be used for the introduction of stock, both from the broken nature 
of the country passed through, and also from the very small extent 
of available pasture. I therefore cannot recommend the Imperial 
Government to countenance or lend support to any scheme for con- 
structing or, it may be said, forcing a thoroughfare by this line of 
route either by land or water, as there would be no immediate 
advantage commensurate with the required sacrifice of capital ; nor 
can I advise such heavy expenditure as would necessarily attend 
the construction of any exclusively British line of road between 
Canada and the Red River Settlement." 

" As regards the fitness for settlement of the district traversed 
by the canoe route, I beg to state that there are only very few and 
isolated spots where agriculture could be carried on, and that only 
by the discoverer." We must, therefore, look to the United States 
for a railway passage for a portion of its route. 



STATE OF OHIO. 



"W e shall present important statistics in reference to some of the 
Western States, with which Canada is so intimately connected. 

Ohio was settled in 1788, and is one of the largest and most 
important of the great Western States. It extends over an area of 
200 miles in length and 195 miles in breadth, or 39,964 square 
miles, being equal to 25,570,960 acres. She was admitted into the 
Union November 29, 1802. The population in 1861 was 2,539,202. 
The capital is Columbus. 



PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE. 



Lands improved . 
Value of farms 
Value of farming imple 
ments and machines 

Horses 

Asses and mules . 
Milch cows. 
Working oxen 
Other cattle . . 

Sheep 

Swine 

Value of live stock . 

Wheat 

Rye 

Indian corn 
Oats .... 



1850. 

9, So 1,493 acres 
358,758,(503 dols. 

12,750,585 „ 

463,397 No. 

3,423 „ 

544,499 „ 

65,381 ., 

749,067 „ 

3,942,929 „ 

1,964,720 „ 

44.121.741 dols. 
14,487,351 bshls. 

425,918 „ 
59,078,695 ,. 

13.472.742 „ 



I860. 
12,665,587 acres 
(566,564,171 dols. 

16,790,226 „ 

(522,829 No. 
6,917 „ 
696,309 „ 
61,760 „ 
901,781 „ 
3,063,887 „ 
2,175,623 „ 
80,433,780 dols. 
14,532,571 bshls. 

656,146 „ 
70,637,140 „ 
15,479,133 „ 



151 



18-30. 

Barley 354,358 

Tobacco 10,454,449 

Buckwheat 638,060 

Wool 10,196,371 

Peas and beans . . . 60,168 

Irish potatoes . . . > 5,057,709 

Sweet „ .... 187,991 

Value of orchard products 095,921 

Wine 48,207 

Butter 34,449,379 

Cheese 20,819,542 

Hay 1,443,142 

Maple sugar .... 4,588,209 
Value of animals slaugh- 



bshls. 

lbs. 

bslils. 

lbs. 

bshls. 



dols. 
gals, 
lbs. 



tons, 
lbs. 



I860. 

1,001,082 

25,528,972 

2,327,005 

10,648,161 

105,219 

8,752,873 

297,908 

1,858,673 

562,640 

50,495,745 

23,758,738 

1,602.513 

3,323,942 



bshls. 

lbs. 
bshls, 
lbs. 
bshls. 



dols. 
gals. 



r45 lbs. 

tons, 
lbs. 



tered 7,439,243, dols. 



14,293,972 dols. 



The report of the auditor for 1862 shows the following ratio of 
increase : — 



Wheat . 
Eye . . 
Barley . 
Corn . . 
Buckwheat 
Oats . . 
Meadow . 
Potatoes . 



Butter 

Cheese 

Stone-Coal 

Sheep killed by dogs . . 

Sheep injured by dogs . 

Sheep killed and injured 
value 



Acres sown . 
Bushels produced 
Acres sown . . 
Bushels produced 
Acres sown . 
Bushels produced 
Acres sown . 
Bushels produced 
Acres sown . . 
Bushels produced 
Acres sown 
Bushels produced 
Acres sown . 
Tons of hay produced 
Acres sown . . 
Bushels produced 
Pounds produced 
Pounds produced 
Bushels mined . 
Number . . . 
Value . . 
Number . 
Value 



by dogs. — Number 



and 



1,931,002 

20,055,424 

69,374 

779,829 

60,501 

1,25.5,049 

2,266,129 

74,858,378 

51,389 

696,623 

728,722 

17,798,794 

1,461,018 

1,708,201 

80,949 

6,556,901 

35,442,858 

20,637,235 

24,541,843 

32,061 

63,868 dols. 

24,301 

23,224 dols. 

87,092 



RAILWAYS. 

In 1850, Ohio possessed 575'27 miles of railway, which cost 



152 

10,684,400 dollars. In 1860 she possessed 2999'45 miles of 
railway, which had cost the State 111,896,351 dollars. 

T. Addison Eichards, speaking of Ohio, says : " Ohio owes 
her wonderful prosperity — her almost marvellous growth, in the 
period of half a century, from a wild forest track to the proud rank 
she now holds among the greatest of the great American States — 
mainly to the rich capabilities of her generous soil and climate. 
Nearly all her vast territory is available for agricultural uses. In 
the amount of her products of wool and of Indian corn, she has no 
peer in all the land — while she is exceeded by only one other State 
in her growth of wheat, barley, cheese, and live stock; by only two 
States in the value of her orchards, oats, potatoes, buckwheat, 
grasses, hay, maple sugar, and butter. Tobacco also is one of her 
staples, and among other articles which she yields abundantly, are 
hops, wine, hemp, silk, honey, beeswax, molasses, sweet potatoes, 
and a great variety of fruits. Her vines, which are known and 
esteemed everywhere, have yielded, in the vicinity of Cincinnati 
alone, half a million gallons of wine in a year." 



INDIANA. 

Its area is 38,809 square miles, or 21,637,776 acres, its length 
being 270 miles from north to south, and its breadth, from east to 
west, about 150. Its northern boundary is Michigan, and the lake 
of that name, its eastern is Ohio, its southern the Ohio River, which 
separates it from Kentucky, and its western, Illinois. The face of 
the country is nowhere mountainous ; the nothern is quite level, and 
is prairie land to a considerable extent. It is well timbered, the 
soil is fertile, and the climate mild and healthy. The State was 
originally territory belonging to the Indians, whose title was extin- 
guished by treaties, and purchases made from them by the United 
States. Its population in 1860 was 1,850,4:28, and its rate of 
increase decennially is nearly 50 per cent. It contains ten prin- 
cipal cities and towns, Indianapolis being the capital, with about 
20,000 inhabitants, the remainder having a population ranging from 
5000 to 15,000 each. 

FRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE. 

Its improved lands amount to 8,161,717 acres, and the unim- 
proved to about the same number. 

The value of the farms in 1860 was 344,902,776 dollars, and of 
the implements of husbandry used upon them 10,420,826 dollars. 

The live stock consisted of 409,504 horses, 18,627 mules and 
asses, 491,038 milch cows, 95,982 working oxen, 582,990 other 
cattle, 2,157,375 sheep, 2,498,522 swine. 

Their products and those of its busy bees were as follows : — 



153 



Butter, 17,931,767 lbs.; cheese, 569,574 lbs.; wool, 2,466,264 lbs.; 
animals slaughtered produced 9,592,322 dollars, and the wax and 
honey amounted to 1,221,939 lbs. 

The cereal products were of wheat, 15,219,120 bushels; rye, 
400,226 bushels; Indian corn, 69,641,591 bushels; oats, 5,028,755 
bushels ; barley, 296,374 bushels ; buckwheat, 367,797 bushels. 

The commercial crops were 1219 lbs. of rice, 7,246,132 lbs. of 
tobacco, 75,058 lbs. of hops, 73,112 lbs. of flax. 

The miscellaneous crops were returned as follows : — 

Peas and beans 79,701 bushels. 

Irish potatoes 3,873,130 „ 

Sweet „ 284,304 

Wine . . . . , 88,275 gallons. 

Hay 635,222 tons. 

Clover seed 45,321 bushels. 

Grass seed 31,886 „ 

Flax seed 155,159 

Maple sugar 1,515,594 lbs. 

Maple molasses 203,028 gallons. 

Sorghum do 827,777 „ 

Silk cocoons 959 lbs. 

The value of the orchard products the same year was 1,212,142 
dollars, of market gardens 288,070 dollars, and of home-made 
manufactures 847,251 dollars. 

The value of the principal articles of production was as 
follows : — 

Flour and meal 11,292,665 dollars. 

Lumber 3,169,843 

Spirits (8,358,560 gallons) . . . 1,951,530 

Boots and shoes . 1,034,341 

Leather 800,387 

Agricultural implements .... 709,645 

Woollen goods 695,370 

Cotton goods 349,000 

Furniture 601,124 

Steam-engines 426,805 

Malt liquors (66,338 bis.) . . . . 328,116 

Soap and candles 256,535 

Iron castings 168,575 

„ rolled (2000 tons). ..... 105,000 



pig (375 tons) 
Coal (15,161 tons) 
Printing . . . 

Gas 

Fish (white fish) . 



9,375 

27,000 

135,415 

96,012 

17,500 



154 

The steam tonnage employed in the State is estimated at 5000 
tons, the latest returns being only np to 1858. 

The number of banks in 1860 was 39, with a capital of about 
five millions. The number has been slightly increased under the 
National system. 

The Indiana railways in 1850 were but 228 miles in length, but 
in 1860 they were extended to 2200. Their cost was 72/795,000 
dollars. They arc about 26 in number. 

The Indiana canals are but two in number, the Wabash and 
Erie, between Evansville on the Ohio Eiver to the Ohio State Line 
379 miles, and the White Water between Lawrenceburg on the 
same river and Cambridge City, 74 miles. The mails are carried 
over routes to the extent of 7960 miles. 

The value of the real and personal property was in 1860 
528,835,371 dollars, having increased about 300 per cent, in ten 
years. 

The number of maimfacturing establishments was 5120, with a 
capital of 18,875,000 dollars, using annually raw material of the 
value of 27,860,000 dollars, employing 21,000 operatives, and pro- 
ducing fabrics of the value of 43,250,000 dollars. 

The school fund pledged to the support of the public schools is 
about 5,000,000 dollars, of which one-half is productive of revenue 
for that purpose, and the residue is becoming so. 

The income of the State from other sources than taxes is about 
1,500,000 dollars. 

The State debt was in 1860, 10,286,855 dollars, and the canal 
debt 7,017,807 dollars. 

In 1800 the population of the territory now the State of Indiana 
was but 4875, and it was admitted into the Union in 1816. 

There is not one of the Northern States which offers greater 
advantages to immigrants than Indiana. 



MICHIGAN. 

Settled in 1670. Admitted into the Union, January 26, 1837. 
Capital, Lansing. Area, 56,243 square miles, or 35,995,520 acres. 
Population, 749,113. The lands of Michigan are well adapted for 
emigrants, and the soil is productive and rich in substance. 



PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE. 

In 1860 there were 1,929,160 acres under cultivation, and 
2,454,780 unimproved but surveyed. In 1860 there were 
3,419,861 acres of land under cultivation, and 3,511,581 acres 



155 

unimproved lands. The cash value of the farms in 1850 was 
51,872,446 dols.; in 1 860 ^ the value was 163,279,087 dols. In 
1850 the value of farming implements and machinery in the State 
was 2,891,371 dols., and in 1860, 5,855,642 dols. The live stock 
consisted in 1850 of horses, 58,506 ; mules, 70; milch cows, 99,676; 
working oxen, 55,350; other cattle, 119,471; sheep, 746,425; 
swine, 205,847 ; value of live stock, 8,008,734 dols. In 1860 there 
were of horses, 154,168; asses and mules, 359; milch cows, 
200,635; working oxen, 65,949; other cattle, 267,683; sheep, 
1,465,477; swine, 374,664; value of live stock, 23,220,026 
dollars. 

The cereal products for 1850 were of wheat, 4,925,889 bushels ; 
rye, 105,871 bushels; Indian corn, 5,641,420 bushels ; oats, 
2,866,056 bushels; barley, 75,249 bushels; buckwheat, 472,917 
bushels. The cereal products for 1860 showed the following 
extraordinary increase: — "Wheat, 8,313,185 bushels; rye, 494,197 
bushels ; Indian corn, 12,152,110 bushels ; oats, 4,539,132 
bushels; barley, 305,914 bushels; and buckwheat, 123,202 
bushels. 

The products of industry for the year ending 1860: — Number 
of establishments, 2530 ; capital in real and personal estate in 
the business, 24,000,000 dols. ; value of raw material, including 
fuel, 19,000,000 dols. ; average number of hands employed, 
22,860 males, 1260 females ; value of annual product, 35,200,000 
dollars. 

The real estate and personal property in 1850 were valued at 
59,787,255 dols., in 1860 at 257,163,983 dols. ; the increase being 
197,376,728 dols., or 330*13 per cent, in ten years. 

The miscellaneous crops were as follows : — 



1850. 



1860. 



Butter .... 
Cheese .... 
Wool .... 
Animals slaughtered 
Wax and honey . 
Orchards . . . 
Peas and beans 
Irish potatoes . 
Sweet „ 
Wine .... 

Hay 

Clover seed . . 
Grass seed . . . 
Maple sugar . . 



7,834,359 lbs. . 


14,704,837 lbs. 


1,011,492 „ 


2,009,064 „ 


2,043,283 „ 


4,062,858 „ 


8,008,734 dols. . 


23,220,026 dols. 


359,232 lbs. . 


770,872 lbs. 


132,650 dols. . . 


1,137,678 dols. 


74,254 bshls. . 


182,195 bshls 


2,359,897 „ . 


5,264,733 „ 


1,177 „ . . 


36,285 „ 


1,654 gals. . 


13,733 gals. 


404,934 tons. . 


756,908 tons. 


16,989 bshls. . 


49,480 bshls 


9,285 „ . 


Q,^o „ 


2,429,794 lbs. . 


2,988,018 lbs. 



156 



RAILROADS. 



THE PRINCIPAL RAILROADS. 



Deduct — 
Michigan Southern, in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois . 
Michigan Central, in Indiana and Illinois 



Mileage. 



1850. 



25-00 



Bay de Noquet and Marquette 

Chicago, Detroit, and Canada Grand Junction 

Detroit and Milwaukee 

Detroit, Monroe, and Toledo 

Flint and Pere Marquette 

Iron Mountain (Northern Michigan) 

Michigan Central 226-00 

Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana (with hranches) . 103-00 



354-00 



12-00 



12-00 



Total in Michigan 342-00 



1860. 



Cost of Construction. 



1850. 



408,000 



20-50 
57-00 
188-00 

51-co I... .;. 

33-00 ... . 

25-00 I 

284-80 I 6,339,667 

484-60 ! 2,378,082 



1,143-90 9,125,749 



279-60 I 180,000 
65-00 i 



344-60 180,000 



799- 



8,945,749 



410,000 
1,710,000 
9,118,219 
1,522,821 
1,000,000 
500,000 
13,158,958 
15,590,952 



43,010,950 



$,995,291 
$,003,260 



11,998,551 



31,0)2,399 



WISCONSIN. 

Organized as a territory in 1836. Admitted into the Union, 
Mav 29, 1848. Capital, Madison. Area, 53,924 square miles, or 
34,511,360 acres. Population (1850), 305,391 ; in 1360, 775,873. 

The topographical aspect of Wisconsin is very similar to that of 
other portions of the north-west section of the Union, presenting, 
for the most part, grand stretches of elevated prairie land, some- 
times 1000 feet higher than the level of the sea. Though there 
are no mountains in this State, there are the characteristic plateau 
ridges of the latitude, formed by depressions, which drain the 
waters, and afford beds for the rivers and lakes. The descent of 
the land towards Lake Superior is very sudden, and the streams are 
full of falls and rapids. 

A writer, speaking of the progress of the State, refers to 
Madison, and remarks : " There was no building, except a solitary 
log cabin, upon the site of Madison, when it was selected in 1836 
for the capital of the State; yet in 1860 the population had reached 
nearly 7000. The streets of this beautiful city of the wilderness 
drop down pleasantly towards the shores of the surrounding lakes." 
Its high lakes, fresh groves, rippling rivulets, shady dales, and 
flowery meadow lawns, arc mingled in greater profusion, and 
disposed in more picturesque order, than we have ever elsewhere 
beheld. 

RAILROADS. 

Wisconsin contains several hundred miles of railroads, and is 
progressing with others. 



157 

The Chicago and Milwaukee extends along the western shore 
from Lake Michigan (85 miles from Chicago) to Milwaukee, con- 
necting with various routes to other towns in the State. 

The Milwaukee and Minnesota Railroad extends the entire breadth 
of the State south from Milwaukee to La Crosse. The Milwaukee 
and Mississippi Railroad extends to Prairie du Chien (200 miles), 
with branch to Janesville. The Milwaukee and Horicon, from 
Horicon to Stevens' Point, on the Wisconsin. Racine is connected 
with Beloit by railway, 65 miles. Kenosha, Sheboygan, and 
Manitowoc, are each building railways westward; and the Chicago, 
St. Paul, and Fond du Lac route is being urged forward northward 
from Fond du Lac to Lake Superior. Besides these main lines 
there are others in operation. 

The census of 1860 shows the following progress in railways in 
this State : — 



Railroads. 


Mileage. 


Cost of 
Construction, &c. 


1850. 


1860. 


1850. 


1860. 






10*00 


Dollars. 


Dollars. 
250,000 






Add— 
Chicago and North- Western from Illinois 


20-00 


810-61 
147*00 


612,382 


27,711,759 
7,123,282 


Deduct — 
Racine and Mississippi, in Illinois 


20-00 


957-61 
35-00 


612,382 


34,835,041 
1,279,435 


Total in Wisconsin 


20-00 


922-61 


612,382 


33,555,606 



In 1864 there were nine railway companies, with 1010 miles of 
railway, costing 37,165,000 dollars. 



PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE, ETC. 

The number of acres of land improved in 1850 was 1,045,499 ; 
in 1860, 3,746,036 ; unimproved, but owned and surveyed, in 
1850, 1,931,159 acres; in 1860, there were 4,153,134 acres. The 
cash value of farms in 1850 was 28,528,563 dollars ; while in 1860 
they amounted to 131,117,082 dollars. The value of farming 
implements and machinery in 1850 was 1,641,568 dollars ; in 
1860, 5,758,847 dollars. 

The assessed value of real and personal estate in I860 was — 
real estate, 148,238,766 dollars; personal property, 37,706,723 
dollars. 

The true value of real estate and personal property, according 
to the seventh census (1850) and the eighth census (1860) 
respectively, was — real estate and personal property in 1850, 



158 

42,056,595 dollars; while in 1860 it was 273,671,668 dollars 
showing an increase of 231,615,073 dollars, or 550*72 per cent. 

The value of live stock in 1850 was 4,897,385 dollars; in 1860 
17,807,366 dollars. 

AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS. 

In agriculture, Wisconsin shows the following returns: — Wheat, 
in 1850, 4,286,131 bushels; in 1860, 15,812,625 bushels. Rye, 
in 1850, 81.253 bushels; in 1860, 888,534 bushels. Indian corn, 
in 1850, 1,988,879 bushels; in 1860, 7,565,290 bushels. Oats, in 
1850, 3,414,672 bushels; in 1860, 11,059,270 bushels. Irish 
pototoes, in 1850, 1,402,077 bushels ; in I860, 3,848,505 bushels. 
Butter, in 1850, 3,633,750 pounds ; in 1860, 13,651,053 pounds. 

The value of ilour and meal produced during the year 1850 
was 3,536,293 dollars; in 1860, 8,161,183 dollars, showing an 
increase of 130*7 per cent. The value of planed and sawed lumber 
in 1850 was 1,218,516 dollars; while in 1860 it was 4,836,159 
dollars, or an increase of 297 per cent. 

VALUATION AND TAXATION IN 1863. 

Number of acres of land assessed .... 16,945,374 dollars 

Value of lands, exclusive of town lots . . . 91,596,750 ,, 

Value of town lots 29,936,932 „ 

Aggregate value of real estate 121,533,682 „ 

„ „ as equalized 127,590,133 „ 

Value of personal property 25,481,640 ,, 

Aggregate of all property 153,071,773 „ 

State tax charged on the above 382,130 „ 

INCJME AND EXPENDITURE. 

The report of the Secretary of State (ex officio auditor) dated 
Oct. 1, 1863, shows : — 

Balance in the Treasury, Sept. 30, 1862 . . 312,217 dollars 

Receipts to Sept. 30, 1863, on account of all 

funds 2,658,095 „ 

2,970,312 „ 
Disbursements on all accounts to the same time 2,602,386 „ 

Balance in the Treasury, Oct. 1, 1863 . . . 367,926 „ 



IOWA. 



Organized as a territory, June 12, 1838. Admitted into the 
Union, December 28, 1846. Capital, Des Moines. Area, 55,045 
square miles. Population (1860), 674,94 8. 



159 



AGRICULTURE OF IOWA. 



William Duane Wilson, Esq., secretary of the Iowa Farmer's 
College, has courteously furnished the following statistics of the 
agriculture of Iowa for 1862 (and partly for 1863), in advance of its 
official publication. All the information thus given is three years 
later than that contained in the United States Census returns, and 
some of it is four years later : — 



Table showing the following particulars concerning the Agriculture of Ioica from 1850 
to 1863 inclusive — viz., the Number of Acres of Improved Land, the Number of Acres 
sown in Wheat and Corn, the Total Product of each for each year, and the Average 
Number of Bushels of each Prodticed per Acre in each year. 







Acres of 


Wheat. 


Corn. 


Year. 


Population. 


Improved 
Land. 


Acres. 


Bushels 
Produced. 


Average 
Per Acre. 


Acres. 


Bushels 
Produced. 


Average 
Per Acre. 


1850 
1856 
1858 
1859 
1862 
1863 


192,514 

519,414 

633,547 

*674,913 

J + 702,3 74 j 


824,682 
2,043,958 
3,109,436 
3,445,394 
4,784,88? 
4,902,000 


117,729 
388,080 
779,909 
974,886 
1,149,836 
1,200,000 


1,530,581 
5,469,516 
3,119,239 
8,433,205 
8,795,321 
14,592,000 


13-10 
14 10 
4-00 
860 
7-64 
12 16 


192,373 

737,213 

986,096 

1,109,358 

1,733,503 

1,800,000 


8,656,799 
31,163,362 
23,366,684 
41,116,994 
63,883,916 
39,000,000 


45-00 
42-33 
24-00 
37-00 
36-85 
21-44 



AGRICULTURAL RETURNS FOR 1862. 

These statistics are from the official returns made in the spring 
of 1863, embracing the whole State, excepting six small counties: — 

Acres enclosed 4,784,886 

Acres unimproved, attached to farms . . . 4,135,613 

Acres of sorgo and imphee 36,667 

Gallons of sorgo syrup 3,012,396 

Pounds of sorgo sugar 21,469 

Acres cf Hungarian grass 36,410 

Tons of Hungarian grass 71,091 

Acres of tame grasses for mowing .... 224,187 

Acres of tame grasses for pasture .... 70,565 

Tons of hay from tame grasses 328,042 

Tons of hay from wild grasses 633,420 

Bushels of grass seed 55,173 

Acres of spring wheat 1,098,998 

Bushels of spring wheat harvested. . . . 8,052,684 

Acres of winter wheat 50,838 



* The population placed here is that of 1860, bat the products on the same line 
are for 1859. The population opposite 1862 and 1863 is that of the State census, 
taken early in the spring of 1863. 

f The products opposite 1863 are the only items not based upon official data, but 
they are based upon reliable information from all sections of the State. 



160 

Bushels of winter wheat harvested. . . . 742,637 

Acres of oats 336,137 

Bushels of oats harvested 7,582,060 

Acres of corn 1,733,503 

Bushels of corn harvested 63,883,916 

Acres of Irish potatoes 35,535 

Bushels of Irish potatoes harvested . . . 2,362,918 

Acres of rye 36,963 

Bushels of rye harvested 474,675 

Acres of barley 18,679 

Bushels of barley harvested . , . « . . 385.067 

Acres of flax 6,317 

Bushels of flax seed harvested 36,168 

Pounds of flax lint 158,918 

Gallons of linseed oil 22,728 

Acres in all other crops 44,004 

Bushels of sweet potatoes 37,498 

Fruit-trees in orchard, bearing 503,943 

Fruit-trees in orchard, not bearing . . . 1.833,651 

Hogs of all ages 1,743,865 

Value of hogs of all ages 2,886,170 dols. 

Cattle of all ages 897,247 

Number of milch cows 292,025 

Number of working oxen 56,596 

Value of cattle of all ages 7,689,852 dols. 

Pounds of butter manufactured 13,675,500 

Pounds of cheese manufactured 902,701 

Sheep at shearing-time in 1862 406,408 

Sheep on hand in 1863 599,938 

Pounds of wool shorn in 1862 1,429,209 

Horses of all ages 275,697 

Value of horses of all ages 11,492,147 dols. 

Mules and asses of all ages 12,032 

Value of mules and asses of all ages . . . 596,671 dols 

Hives of bees 84,731 

Pounds of honey 1,052,681 

Pounds of beeswax 40.762 

Pounds of grapes raised 294,755 

Gallons of wine from tame grapes .... 13,163 

Pounds of hops raised 41,738 

Pounds of tobacco raised 517,194 

Acres planted for timber 8,360 

Rods of hedging 306,728 

Value of domestic manufactures not before 

included 967,979 dols. 

Value of general manufactures 2,951,805 ,, 

Value of agricultural implements and ma- 
chinery, including waggons 5,178,049 „ 



161 

The average product of wool per head of sheep, at the shearing 
of 1862, was o*51 pounds. This rate for 1863 would yield, from 
the 599,938 sheep on hand in that year, a wool-clip of 2,099,783 
pounds. Mr. Wilson estimates the numher of sheep in Iowa, for 
the shearing of 1864, at 900,000 — which number, at 3-^ pounds per 
head, will yield a product of wool amounting to 3,150,000 pounds. 



Railways in Iowa ix 1860. 


Miles. 


Value. 


Burlington and Missouri 


93-30 
25-35 
82-11 

111-18 
51-00 
92 -00 
25-20 
12-00 

187-63 


Dollars. 

2,492,758 
612,359 
1,860,251 
2,836,833 
1,351,790 
2,879,615 
1,022,306 
120,000 
6,318,721 


Cedar Rapids and Missouri 

Chicago, Iowa, and Nebraska 


Dubuque and Pacific 


l)ubuque, Marion, and Western 


Keokuk, Fort Des Moines, and Minnesota .... 
Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, and Muscatine .... 

Mahaska County 

Mississippi and Missouri (with branches') .... 


Total in Iowa 


679 -77 


19,494,633 





In 1864 the number of railway companies was 10, with 804 
miles of railway, with a total value of 25,498,000 dollars. 



ILLINOIS. 

Settled in 1749. Admitted into the Union, Dec. 3, 1818. 
Capital, Springfield. Area, 55,409 square miles. Population (1860), 
1,711,951. 

AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS. 

The amount of lands improved in 1850 was 5,039,545 acres ; in 
1860, 13,251,473. 

The cash value of farms in 1850 was 96,133,290 dollars ; in 
1860, 432,531,072 dollars. While the value of farming implements 
and machinery in 1850 was only 6,405,561 dollars, in 1860 it had 
increased to 18,276,160 dollars. The total value of live stock in 
1850 was 24,209,258 dollars; in 1860 it was 73,434,621 dollars. 

18o0. 1860. 

Wheat bushels, 9,414,575 24,159,500 

Eye „ 83,364 981,322 

Indian corn „ 59,646,984 115,296,779 

Oats „ 10,087,241 15,336,072 

Wool lbs. 2,150,130 2,477,563 

Peas and beans bushels, 82,814 112,624 

Irish potatoes „ 2,514,«61 5,799,964 

M 



162 



Sweet potatoes bushels, 

Barley 

Buckwheat „ 

Value of orchard products . dollars, 

Wine gallons, 

Value of productions of 

market-gardens . . . dollars, 

Butter lbs. 

Cheese „ 

Hay tons, 

Value of animals slaughtered dollars, 



1850. 


I860. 


157,433 


341,443 


110,795 


1,175,651 


184,504 


345,069 


446,049 


1,145,936 


2,997 


47,093 


127,494 


418,195 


2,526,543 


23,337,516 


1,278,225 


1,595,358 


601,952 


1,834,265 


4,972,286 


15,159,343 



VALUATION AND TAXATION. 

Tabular Statement of Number of Horses, Cattle, $'C, Carriages, Watches, 
Pianos, fyc, their number and assessed value, in 1861 ; also valuation of 
all other Personal Property for same year; also valuation of Real 
Property for same year; and Taxes levied and Number of Acres in 
cultivation in Wheat, #c, in I860. 

Number. 

Horses 625,242 

Neat cattle 1,428,362 



Mules and asses 39,278 

Sheep 731,379 

Hogs 8,196,581 

Carriages and waggons .... 209,247 

Clocks and watches 169,779 

Pianos 3,4(17 

Goods and merchandise .... 

Bankers' property 

Manufactured articles .... 

Moneys and credits 

Bonds, stocks, &c 

Unenumerated property .... 

Total value of personal, after 

all deductions were made 



Real Estate. 

Town lots 

Lands 

Railroad property. . . . 

Total value of real and 

personal propeity 

Amount of taxes charged . 

Amount of taxes abated, 



Number. 



commissions, 



&c. 



Value 

21,064,138 dols 

11,494,803 

1,708,530 

747,437 

4,032,874 

4,859,507 

715,768 

248,677 

9,104,949 

2,009,611 

1,111,127 

13,781,843 

443,329 

11,549,953 



80,720,918 „ 

Value. 

41,454,142 dols 

107,404,607 „ 

11,243,722 „ 


330,823,479 
2,523,536 

323,136 


J5 



Net amount of taxes 



2,200,400 



163 

Number of acres in cultivation in wheat . . 1,963,328 

Number of acres in cultivation in corn . . . 4,119,620 

Number of acres in other field products . . 1,035,673 



RAILWAYS IN ILLINOIS. 



RAILROADS. 



Chicago, Alton, and St. Louis 

Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy 

Chicago and Milwaukee 

Chicago and North- Western 

Chicago and Rock Island 

Elgin and State Line 

Galena and Chicago Union (with branches) 

Great Western (with branch) 

Illinois Central 

Illinois Coal 

Joliet and Chicago 

Logansport, Peoria, and Burlington 

Mount City 

Ohio and Mississippi 

Peoria and Bureau Valley 

Peoria and Oqiiawka 

Quincy and Chicago 

Quincy and Toledo 

Rockford 

Rock Island and Peoria 

Sycamore and Cortlandt _ 

Terre Haute, Alton, & St. Louis (with branches 
Warsaw and Peoria 



Mileage. 



1850. 1860. 



13-00 



42-50 
55-00 



Totals , 



220-00 

138-00 

45-00 

213-00 

181-50 

32-20 

261 25 

182-00 

738-25 

4-00 

35-80 

171 00 

3 00 

148-00 

46-60 

94-00 

100-00 

34-00 

28-00 

1100 

5-00 

208-30 

13-00 



Cos t of Construction . 



1850. 



Dollars, 



195,000 



1860. 



695,507 
550,000 



Dollars. 

10,000,000 

7,468,926 

1,884,344 

10,684,922 

6,913,554 

581,317 

9,352,481 

5,086,206 

27,195,391 

100,000 

1,000,000 

5,000,000 

60,000 

4,870,686 

2,106,000 

3,769,889 

1,978,050 

750,000 

560,000 

220,000 

75,000 

8,865,2-^2 

300,000 



110-50 2,912-90 1,440,507 108,822,518 



In 1864 there were 26 companies, 3156 miles of railway, the 
aggregate cost of which wa s 120,417,000 dollars. 



RAILWAYS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The number of companies, miles of railway, and aggregate cost 
of all the railways in the United States, up to the 1st of January, 
I860, were as follows : — 

Compares. Miles " Aggregate Cost. 

Alabama 10 804 18,161,000 dols, 

Arkansas 1 38 1,155,000 „ 

California 3 116 5,790,000 „ 

Connecticut 13 629 23,014,000 „ 

Delaware 4 126 4,500,000 „ 

Florida 6 401 8,628,000 „ 

Georgia 17 1419 29,389,000 ,. 

Illinois 26 3156 120,417,000 „ 

m 2 



164 

Compares. Miles< Aggregate Cost. 

Indiana 19 2195 71,296,000 dols 

Iowa 10 804 25,496,000 

Kansas 1 40 1,400,000 

Kentucky 12 566 21,062,000 

Louisiana 9 334 12,021,000 

Maine. ........ 13 505 12,669,000 

Maryland and District of Colo- 
rado 8 408 22,737,000 

Massachusetts 49 1285 59,051,000 

Michigan 10 898 35,091,000 

Minnesota 4 157 3,850,000 

Mississippi 5 862 24,682,000 

Missouri 7 924 50,046,000 

New York 42 2820 135,887,000 

New Hampshire 17 660 22,489,000 

New Jersey 26 864 38,892,000 

North Carolina 10 983 19,120,000 

Ohio 30 3310 117,583,000 

Oregon 2 19 700,000 

Pennsylvania 85 3359 170,080,000 

Rhode Island 3 125 4,588,000 

South Carolina 10 973 22,053,000 

Tennessee 14 1295 33,533,000 

Texas 8 451 16,239,000 

Vermont 9 587 23,852,000 

Virginia 17 1378 42,905,000 

West Virginia 1 360 21,985,000 

Wisconsin 9 1010 37,165,000 



Totals . . . .510 33,877 1,261,526,000 



165 



CHAPTER III.* 

MINNESOTA. 

Extent of Territory— St. Paul, the Capital— Physical Districts— Falls of St. An- 
thony and its Water Power— Mineral Resources — Sandstone, &c— Salt Springs 
— The Relations of Minnesota in Reference to Internal Commerce — Rapid Pro- 
gress of Cultivation — Agricultural Productions — Progress of Population — The 
Future of Minnesota— Testimony of Hon. W. H. Seward— Conclusion — Railway 
through Minnesota — Illinois Central Railroad — The Value of the Lands — Value 
of Illinois Lands. 

" Here is the place — the central place — where the agriculture of the 
richest region of North America must pour out its tributes to the 
whole world." — Speech of Hon. Wm. H. Seward, delivered at St. Paul, 
Minnesota. 

EXTENT OF TERRITORY. 

The territory of Minnesota, as organized by the Act of Con- 
gress, of March 3, 1849, is an extensive region, being about 
four times as large as the State of Ohio, and is 675 miles in extent 
from its south-eastern to its north-eastern border. It extends 
from the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, and the western ex- 
tremity of Lake Superior on the east, to the Missouri, and White- 
EarthRivers on the west a distance of over 400 miles ; and from the 
Iowa line (latitude 43° 30') on the south to the British line (latitude 
49°) on the north, also a distance of over 400 miles — the whole 
comprising an area of 166,000 square miles, or 106,000,000 acres. 

A large portion of its territory has since been ceded west of the 
Red River to form the territory of Dacotah. The present number 
of square miles is 83,531, or 53,459,840 acres. Minnesota was 
admitted into the American Union, and permitted to enjoy the 
rights of a sovereign State in 1857. Since that time her increase in 
population and her progress, in every sense, has been without a 
parallel. Why, she has sent an army of 15,000 stalwart men to 
bear arms in the present unfortunate war ; yet her population has 
increased between 1859 and 1864 to 350,000, and during the last 
year she has produced 2,000,000 bushels more wheat than any pre- 
ceding year. Her tax levy shows property to the amount of 
40,000,000 dollars, or £8,000,000 sterling. She has a college and 
numerous schools, which are supported by grants of land In the 
year 1862, 38,147 acres were sold, yielding a sum of 242,532 
dollars. 

* This chapter is condensed from the admirable reports of the Hon. J. A. 
Wheelock and the Hon. James "W. Taylor, Commissioners of Statistics for the 
State of Minnesota. 



166 



ST. PAUL, THE CAPITAL. 

St. Paul— latitude 44° 52' 46", longitude 93° 4' 54"— is a port 
of entry, the county seat of Ramsey County, and the seat of govern- 
ment of the territory of Minnesota. It is pleasantly situated on the 
east bank of the Mississippi Eiver, eight miles from the Falls of St. 
Anthony, and five miles from Fort Snelling; about 2070 miles 
from the mouth of the Mississippi River, and near its confluence 
with the Minnesota River, and is elevated about 800 feet above 
the Gulf of Mexico. It is near the geographical centre of the 
continent of North America, in the north temperate zone, and 
must eventually become a central nucleus for the business of 
one of the best watered, timbered, and most fertile and healthy 
countries of the globe. It is surrounded in the rear by a semi- 
circular plateau, elevated about forty feet above the town, of easy 
grade, and commanding a magnificent view of the river above and 
below. Nature never planned a spot better adapted to build up a 
showy and delightful display of architecture and gardening, than 
that natural terrace of hills. The town has sprung up, like Minerva 
full armed from the head of Jupiter, and now contains 10,000 
inhabitants ; its whole history of four years forming an instance of 
Western enterprise, and determined energy and resolution, hitherto 
unsurpassed in the history of any frontier settlement. 

PHYSICAL DISTRICTS. 

The Superior basin of the St. Lawrence is terminated on the 
west and north by an immense development of the primary rocks, 
complicated by local disturbances, and stretching from Labrador 
and James's Bay in broad granitic and trappean ranges, overlaid by 
huge deposits of clay and drift, and disappearing to the west under 
the argillaceous drift deposits of the Red River Valley, and on the 
south, in the Silurian sandstones and limestones of the Mississippi 
Valley. This range of transverse rocks, with all its diluvial 
covering, does not rise over 1680 feet above the sea, while its 
average elevation is not over 1450 feet above the sea, or 450 feet 
above the general level of the State. 

The immense diluvial sand dunes which cover the uplift of this 
formation, west of Lake Superior, constitute the height of land 
which skirts the summit level of the Mississippi, and give origin, 
between latitudes 47° and 49°, to the three great river systems of 
the continent. This highland district is the watershed of North 
America — the fountain head of that radiating efflux of inland waters 
which clothe the vast circle of the continent with their gorgeous 
intertexture of physical and commercial life, and in return gather 
back to their sources the centripetal movements of American deve- 
lopment. The surface of Minnesota is thus made up of the 
culminating acclivities of the three great hydrographical divisions of 



167 

the North American plain. It is a pyramid formed by the slanting 
basins of the St. Lawrence, of the Mississippi, and of Lake Winni- 
peg, converging respectively from the cast, south, and west upon 
this central ridge. 

Three-fifths of this surface slopes south and south-eastwardly, 
with the waters and plains of the Mississippi ; the rest is nearly 
equally divided betw r een the low savannahs of the Red River, in 
the north-west, and the broken highlands of the north-east, which 
are drained by the precipitous streams of Lake Superior and Rainy 
Lake. These three great hydrographical slopes have the following 
estimated areas respectively : — 

The Mississippi slope 49,000 square miles 

The Red River slope 17,000 

The Superior and Rainy River slope . 15,000 „ 

Each of these slopes constitutes a distinct physical district, with 
its characteristic structure and physiognomy — the nuclei of the 
broad differences which their diverging basins carry to the opposite 
extremities of the continent : — 

1. The name of the Superior or Highland district belongs not 
only to the volcanic uplift of the Superior basin, but to all the great 
northern block of drift stratum on its borders, which encloses the 
summits of the Mississippi and the Red River, and the valley of 
Rainy Lake River. This whole district forms a singular exception 
to the general character of the State. Its elevation, about 1400 or 
1500 feet above the sea, is only about 450 feet above the general 
level of the country; but the rugged and comparatively barren 
aspect of its surface, broken by numerous transverse ridges, with its 
low curves of summer temperature and subarctic flora, entitle it to 
be designated the " mountain district of Minnesota." Its whole 
area, about 20,000 miles in extent, is covered with a compact forest 
growth, of which the pine, spruce, and other conifers, are the 
prevailing forms. The hills and knolls, which rise only from 85 to 
100 feet above the surrounding waters, ramify throughout its whole 
extent, so as to determine the basins of the innumerable lakes and 
streams which so peculiarly characterize this region of country. 
These hills are generally sandy and sterile. In the valleys the 
soil is alluvial and rich. The climate here is from 5° to 12° 
colder than in the rest of the State, being comprehended between 
the summer temperature of 60° on its northern and 65° on 
its southern boundary. With these general features in common, 
this region embraces three subordinate districts, marked by distinct 
characters — 

(1.) The Superior declivity, which is distinguished by its bold 
ranges of granitic and trappean hills, and their imbedded wealth 
of mineral deposits — by the immense expanse of its lake excavation, 
with a water area of 32,100 square miles, and a depth of 600 feet, 



168 



and by the number and picturesqueness of the cascades and lakes 
into which its rivers break in their passage across the transverse 
chains of hills ; 

(2.) The Rainy Lake Valley, whose waters flow into Hudson's 
Bay, and form, between the Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake, a 
navigable aqueduct nearly a hundred miles in length, along our 
northern boundary, and whose banks Sir George Simpson describes 
as a gentle slope of greensward, crowned in many places with a 
plentiful growth of birch, poplar, beech, elm, and oak, resembling 
the banks of the Thames in fertility ; and 

(3.) The summit level of the Mississippi, with its immense 
system of lacustrine reservoirs, pressing around the sources of the 
Mississippi and its tributaries, with its interminable labyrinth of 
streams and rice lakes, meadows, ponds, bogs, and cranberry 
swamps. Instead of the rugged hills of the Superior district, the 
country is here broken into low oblong sandy knolls and ridges 
covered with pine, and separated by Ioav savannahs, while the rivers 
are fringed with low alluvial bottoms, covered with a dense growth, 
chiefly of hardwoods. 

This forest highland region, which has its southern limit about 
latitude 464-°, extends westward a little over half the breadth of the 
State, when its forests and sandy hills, suddenly disappear to the 
west, and its line of elevation sinks by a terraced descent of 500 feet 
to the low, alluvial, almost woodless levels of the Red River basin. 
To the primary rocks which underlie this north-eastern Adirondack 
with its sandy covering, succeeds a bed of limestone, concealed 
under a deep deposit of clay. Instead of a sterile soil of sand, we 
have a deep, dark, argillaceous alluvium, exceedingly rich and 
grassy. The poplar, the alder, and willow, take the place of the 
pine and the spruce. Both districts are imperfectly drained, but in 
the one case the swamps and surface waters are accumulated by the 
flatness of the country, and in the other by its broken and hilly 
conformation. Though the Red River Valley spans the same 
latitude as the north-eastern Adirondack, its mean summer tempe- 
rature is from 5 C to 10° higher, and by a still more curious contrast 
its winters are colder. Both districts belong nearly to the same 
rain belt, having a summer fall of about ten inches. These 
contrasted districts, lying, as it were, back to back, occupy the sec- 
tion of Minnesota lying north of latitude 4GA°, embracing together 
about 38,000 square miles. The region south of this line, com- 
prising all the rest of the State, 40,000 square miles in extent, 
belongs geologically, and in its forms of relief as well as hydrogra- 
phically, to the Mississippi Valley, whose summit we have assigned 
in accordance with its geological and botanical affinities to the 
S uperior or Highland district. 

The general character of the Mississippi slope is that of a 
rolling prairie, whose undulations dip down on all sides to the cool 
margin of beautiful lakes and streams. It is everywhere covered 



1(9 

with a warm, dark, and fertile siliceo- calcareous soil, enriched with 
organic remains and alluvial deposits, and resting either on the 
Silurian limestones or sandstones, or a drift stratum overlying these 
rocks. The pine, spruce, and other conifers, which characterize 
the Superior district, abruptly disappear between the 46th and 47th 
parallel, with its compact forest mass, and the sudden transition 
from the pine belt to the deciduous forms, distributed in groves 
and belts, conspicuously mark the important change of climate and 
soil which is expressed in the whole physiognomy of this district. 
While the surface of this part of Minnesota partakes of the general 
character of the prairie districts of the Mississippi Valley, it pos- 
sesses a marked individuality in the picturesque cast of its surface 
forms. Its rivers, cutting deep troughs in the plain, and mingling 
with the bold and angular outline of their bluffs with the rounded 
and graceful sweep of their valleys, afford, with a thorough drainage, 
and an immense extent of inland navigation, some of the most 
animated scenery on the continent, while the innumerable lakes 
scattered over its surface, the number and beauty of its groves and 
belts of timber, which crown the undulations of the upland, or 
shadow the margins of streams, break up the monotony of the 
prairie into forms of infinite variety and beauty, and unite all the 
elements, not only of successful husbandry, but of delightful land- 
scape, in the limits of almost every farm. The Mississippi slope 
below the parallel of 46^-°, or the pine belt, is enclosed between the 
summer temperature of 65° on the north, and 73° on the south. 



FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY. 

1. Minnesota possesses a more ample and effective water power 
than New England. The Falls and Kapids of St. Anthony alone, 
with a total descent of 64 feet, afford an available hydraulic capacity, 
according to an experienced and competent engineer,* of 120,000- 
horse power. This is considerably greater than the whole motive 
power — steam and water — employed in textile manufactures in 
England in 1850, and nearly seven times as great as the water 
power so employed. 

That is to say, the available power created by this magnificent 
waterfall is more than sufficient to drive all the 25,000,000 spindles 
and 4000 mills of England and Scotland combined. The entire 
machinery of the English Manchester and the American Lowell, if 
they could be transplanted here, would scarcely press upon its im- 
mense hydraulic capabilities. But as compared with those great 
industrial centres, the Falls of St. Anthony possess one decisive ad- 
vantage, which is to a great extent illustrative of the functions of 

* See a pamphlet by the Hon. David Heaton, on " The General Interests of 
Manufacture and Trade connected with the Upper Mississippi," to which is 
appended a report on the hydrography and geology of the Mississippi River, by 
T. M. Griffith and Dr. C. L. Anderson. 



170 

tlio State as a commercial and manufacturing emporium. This 
splendid cataract forms the terminus of continuous navigation on the 
Mississippi, and the same waters, which lavish on the broken ledges 
of limestone a strength almost sufficient to weave the garments of the 
world, may gather the products of its mills almost at their very- 
doors, and distribute them to every part of the great valley of the 
Mississippi. 

The St. Croix Falls, which are only second to St. Anthony Falls 
in hydraulic power, are similarly, though somewhat less advan- 
tageously situated at the head of navigation upon a tributary of the 
Mississippi. Except the Minnesota, nearly every tributary of the 
Mississippi, in its rapid and broken descent to the main stream, 
affords valuable mill sites. The Mississippi itself, in its descent from 
its Itasca summit to Fort Snelling, in which it falls 886 feet, or over 
16 inches per mile, is characterized by long steps of slack water, 
broken at long intervals by abrupt transitions in the character of the 
rocks which form its bed, and forming a fine series of falls and rapids 
available for hydraulic works. Pokegoma Falls, Little Falls, Sauk 
Kapids, and St. Anthony Falls are the chief of these. But the Elk, 
Rum, St. Croix, and numberless smaller streams on the east slope 
of the Mississippi, the Sauk, Crow, Vermilion, Cannon, Zumbro, 
Minneiska, Root, and their branches, nearly all the tributaries of 
the Minnesota, and a multitude of streams besides, in their abrupt 
descent over broken beds of limestone or sandstone, through long 
and winding valleys or ravines, with a fall of from 3 to 8 feet per 
mile, afford an unlimited abundance of available water power to 
nearly every county in the State. This diffusion of hydraulic 
power throughout the whole State is a feature whose value as an 
element of development can scarcely be over estimated, as it gives 
to every neighbourhood the means of manufacturing its own flour 
and lumber, and affords the basis of all those numerous local manu- 
factures which enter into the industrial economy of every northern 
community. 

2. Passing to the second point of comparison with New Eng- 
land, already incidentally touched upon, the commercial position of 
Minnesota upon the termini of the three great water-lines of the 
continent, not only gives it an immensely wider capacity of interior 
trade, but a far easier access to the sources of supply of raw mate- 
rial. A region six times as large as all New England, as yet un- 
developed, but already starting on the swift career of western 
growth, and capable of supporting many millions of population, is 
directly dependent upon Minnesota for all the manufactured com- 
modities it may consume. Its position, relative to these north- 
western valleys, invests its manufacturing capabilities with an im- 
portance greater than those of any other of the interior districts of 
the continent. For the future manufacture of cotton and woollen 
fabrics, it has decided advantages of position over New England. 
The Mississippi River brings it into intimate relation with the 



171 

sources of cotton supply, and it lies in the midst of the great wool 
zone of the continent. To the development of textile manufactures, 
however, large aggregations of population, and a thorough organiza- 
tion of labour are necessary, and we may confidently resign the task 
to the sure operation of the laws of growth and political economy. 

3. But it is especially its internal resources of raw material, of 
which New England is to a great extent destitute, which give 
Minnesota its physical superiority over that district in manufacturing 
capacity. 

MINERAL RESOURCES. 

To enumerate these in the order of their importance, we possess 
in the mineral ranges of Lake Superior deposits of iron and copper, 
which have been shown by the severest tests to be superior to any 
on the continent, and fully equal in tenacity and malleability to the 
best Swedish and Russian iron * 

The completion of a railroad from Lake Superior to the 
Mississippi River, for which a grant of lands was made this year 
(1861) by the State Legislature, and which will undoubtedly be 
pushed forward as soon as the pressure of the war is removed from 
business enterprises, will enable us to turn these rich ores to account 
as a basis for the important class of manufactures of which they form 
the staple. 

With these facilities at her command, Minnesota may be reason- 
ably expected, with her projected systems of internal improvement 
completed, to control the manufacture of iron and copper products 
for the Mississippi Valley. Agricultural and mechanical imple- 
ments, railroad iron, locomotives, stoves, bolts, nuts, screws, cutlery, 
edge tools, safes, scales, now imported at an immense cost by rail- 
road, could be produced here and supplied to every part of the 
Mississippi Valley above the Ohio, at least as cheaply as in 
Pennsylvania. 

But iron and coal, though the most important, are not the only 
useful minerals which the rock formations of Minnesota hold in 
reserve for her future manufactures. 

Roofing and ciphering slates of excellent quality are found in 
Carlton County, near the St. Louis River, directly on the surveyed 
line of the Superior railroad. 

SANDSTONE, ETC. 

A fine wliite sandstone, peculiar to Minnesota, forms the base of 
the bluffs at Fort Snelling, and along the Mississippi from Red 
Rock to St. Paul. This sandstone is made up of grains of limpid 
and colourless quartz. Nicollet suggests its utility for the manufac- 

* Beds of nodular ironstone, of great value, also exist at a number of localities 
on the Blue Earth and Le Sueur Rivers, yielding 31 per cent, of iron from the 
raw ore. 



172 

ture of glass. Norwood says it is even purer than the celebrated 
Linn sand used by the Scotch manufacturers of flint glass. Treated 
in the same way, it yielded a glass of similar quality. 

The limestone, which crops out near the surface along the banks 
of the Mississippi, affords an exhaustless supply of building mate- 
rial of excellent quality. The upper stratum of this limestone 
formation is a greyish, buff- coloured rock, lying in layers of from 
4 to 12 inches in thickness, easily quarried and worked, though not 
capable of a high polish. Under this lies a beautiful blue shell 
limestone, which is quarried extensively at West St. Paul, St. 
Anthony, and elsewhere — hard, close-grained, durable, and ad- 
mirably adapted to architecture. These limestone formations, at 
various localities, contain a large per centage of carbonate of lime. 
Lime-kilns are numerous all over the State, but the best lime is said 
to be manufactured at the mouth of the Cottonwood, and at Shakopee 
on the Minnesota, the former yielding 90 per cent, of carbonate. 
Furthermore, this blue or shell limestone, as the result of experi- 
ments made by Dr. C. L. Anderson, promises to furnish an excellent 
hydraulic cement. 

The bluish clay which underlies the soil in a large portion of 
the State, is used for the manufacture of bricks of a good quality. 
The white mail, of which beds occur at St. Anthony, yields a 
beautiful and durable buff-coloured brick, resembling the cele- 
brated Milwaukee brick, but of more variable colour. This clay, I 
believe, forms the material employed in the pottery at that place. 

Similar marl and clay beds yield fine materials for bricks and 
pottery at Carver, Chaska, Stillwater, St. Paul, and other parts of 
the State. A bed of fine porcelain clay is reported in Wabashaw 
County. 

SALT SPRINGS. 

Not the least important of the indigenous raw material, which 
Minnesota possesses for profitable manufactures, are the numerous 
salt springs of the Red River Valley, the beginning of the immense 
salines which stretch westward along the international boundary to 
the Rocky Mountains. These large reservoirs of salt, of which 
twelve belong to the State under a grant of Congress, are destined 
to form a considerable source of wealth. Reference has already 
been made to the manufacture of salt in the British settlements of 
the Red River. A few years ago the supply of salt for these set- 
tlements was obtained in North-eastern Dakota, near Pembina. 
"With the imperfect apparatus employed by the half-breeds who are 
engaged in its manufacture, the springs near Lake Manitoba are said 
to yield 1 bushel of good salt to 24 gallons of brine, or 33^- per cent. 
The immense consumption of salt in the north-west in the packing 
of beef and pork, and other purposes, gives a peculiar value to this 
resource. In 1839 the Chicago market was supplied with 19,000 
barrels. In 1858 there were imported into Chicago for the north- 



173 

western trade, from the salt-factories of New York alone, 1,669,000 
bushels. The whole yield of the New York salt springs in 1858 
was 7,033,000 bushels. There are also numerous salt springs in 
Virginia and Pennsylvania. Kecently a valuable spring has been 
opened at East Saginaw, Michigan, yielding the same proportion of 
salt to brine as at Lake Manitoba. Nearly all the product of these 
springs goes to the supply of the north and of the north-west, which 
possesses in Minnesota and Dakota abundant resources for sup- 
plying itself. 

THE RELATIONS OF MINNESOTA TO THE MOVEMENTS AND 
CHANNELS OF INTERNAL COMMERCE. 

A complete analysis of the commercial position of Minnesota 
would embrace a geographical description of the continent. 

The contiguous basins of the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, and 
of Lake Winnipeg form an immense triangular plain, throughout 
which every diversity of soil and vegetation covers an uniform 
geology of the successive series of sedimentary rocks. This vast 
interior basin, enclosed by the mountain chains of the ocean coasts 
— with an area of 2,500,000 square miles — culminates in Minnesota, 
as the apex from which its great divergent valleys slope to their 
ocean outlets, the common source and centre from which these three 
great rivers radiate to the ocean. 

The Mississippi River, originating in the lacustrine steppes of 
Northern Minnesota, in latitude 47° and longitude 95°, gives 900 
miles of its waters to its mother State, of which 400 miles are navi- 
gable, with only two interruptions, before it reaches the head of 
continuous navigation below the Falls of St. Anthony; whence, 
starting at a more majestic pace, and gathering in its bosom the 
commerce of fifteen States, it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, at a 
distance, by its course, of 2187 miles from St. Paul, embracing in its 
basin an area of 1,217,562 square miles, a population of 13,000,000, 
and an aggregate shore-line of 35,644, of which seven-eighths 
belong to its navigable tributaries. 

The St. Lawrence, of which the St. Louis River may be regarded 
as the source, rises north of the Mississippi summit. Of the great 
fresh- water lakes which form the reservoirs of this majestic stream, 
the largest and furthest inland, the Superior, forms a portion of the 
north-eastern boundary of Minnesota. Their collected waters, 
flowing eastward, with a channel wide and deep enough to float the 
navies of the world, reach the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the Atlantic 
Ocean, at a distance of 2400 miles from the head of Lake Superior 
in Minnesota. Its basin has an area of 1,000,000 square miles. 
The Red River, rising in Elbow Lake, near the sources of the Mis- 
sissippi, flows south-westwardly to the western border of Minnesota, 
whence it runs for 520 miles with a narrow and winding but navi- 
gable current, through a rich alluvial plain, due north to Lake 



174 

"Winnipeg, when it interlocks with the waters of the Saskatchewan, 
whose great branches rise in the Rocky Mountains, and extend this 
chain of navigation 1000 miles further to the northward. Lake 
Winnipeg, which unites the waters of these streams, is 264 miles 
long and 35 miles wide. These waters drain a fertile area of nearly 
400,000 square miles in the form of a parallelogram, between the 
49th and 50th degrees of latitude. Such are the gigantic arms with 
which Minnesota grasps the extremities of the continent. These 
three great channels of internal commerce, converging from the 
opposite extremes of the great plain, unite all its infinite gradations 
of climate and production in one simple and integral geographical 
and social mass, having their common link of inter- communication 
in Minnesota. Nevertheless, each of these component basins con- 
stitute a distinct physical district, with a distinct climate, a distinct 
physiognomy, and characteristic productions. According to the 
present distribution of industrial interests, the St. Lawrence Basin, 
or the north-east, is the seat of manufactures and maritime com- 
merce. The Mississippi Valley is spanned by three successive belts 
of production, of which cotton, sugar, and rice characterize the 
southern ; corn, tobacco, and fruits the middle ; and wheat, provi- 
sions, wool, hay, and the products of the dairy the extreme northern 
belt, including Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

The Saskatchewan Basin is the continuation of this northern 
belt to the north-west, constituting the north-west delta of the great 
triangular plain, as the middle and southern belts of the Mississippi 
valley constitute its southern delta, and the St. Lawrence Basin its 
north-eastern delta. These well-defined sections are all recipro- 
cally dependent upon each other. 

The bread and provisions of the north-west go to feed the manu- 
facturer and merchant of the north-east and the cotton-planter of 
the south. In return it receives from the north-east the fabrics of 
domestic or foreign manufactures, and from the south its sugar, rice, 
fruits, tobacco, &c. 

Here are four distinct commercial movements arising between 
these several districts, each having its corresponding channel of 
transit, and all having their common point of internexus in Minne- 
sota. Each of these movements involves two transhipments within 
her borders upon her eastern and western water-lines, and imposes, 
therefore, a double tariff on through freightage over her territory, 
to swell the commercial revenues of her people. 

These movements, moreover, constitute two transverse commer- 
cial currents, the first having a general direction north and south, 
and the other a general direction east and west. Each has its 
corresponding water-line, and a belt of continuous plain or rail- 
way bed. 

1. The north and south current represents the normal tendency 
of commercial movement in the direction of the great contrasts of 
climate and production between the opposite sides of the temperate 
zone. 



175 

The Mississippi and Red River valleys constitute the north and 
south belt, which nearly spans the temperate zone, and on which 
are exhibited the whole scale of its physical diversities, on a surface 
of nearly uniform elevation. This north and south movement has 
its appropriate channel in the magnificent reaches of navigable 
waters which constitute what we may call the axis of this belt, of 
which the Hudson's Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the opposite 
poles. The Mississippi, the Minnesota, the Red River, and Lake 
Winnipeg form a nearly continuous chain of navigation, 3300 miles in 
length, or, if we include the Saskatchewan, 4300 miles, interrupted 
only by a low and narrow portage across the western levels of Min- 
nesota, crossing 25 degrees of latitude, while numerous lateral 
tributaries permeate their valleys in all directions. 

2. The east and west, or maritime current, has its corresponding 
belt in the St. Lawrence, Upper Mississippi, Red River and Sas- 
katchewan valleys, which form a continuous level plain, with a 
general direction north-west and south-east, coinciding with the 
isothermal belt, between the mean summer temperatures of 60 D 
and 70% which defines the grass, wheat, and wool zone of the 
continent, and extending from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic, 
across 55 degrees of longitude. It has also its corresponding channel 
in the water axis of this plain, formed by the St. Lawrence, the Red 
River, and Saskatchewan, two continuous chains of navigation, east 
and west of Minnesota, whose aggregate length is 3412 miles, ex- 
tending three-quarters of the distance across the continent. 

RAPID PROGRESS OF CULTIVATION. 

Iii 1854, we had less than 15,000 acres under cultivation with 
an aggregate product of less than 500,000 bushels of grain and 
potatoes, so that the breadth of tillage and quantities produced have, 
on the average, nearly doubled every year for six years. The fol- 
lowing comparison with the census results of 1850 will show the 
enormous advance of agricultural production in Minnesota since its 
first organization and settlement : — 

No. Acres Improved. No. Acres Tilled? »yg- ^unand 

1850 . . 5,035 . . 1,900 . . 71,709 

1860 . . 546,951 . . 433,267 . .14,693,517 

In 1859, according to the census, we produced 9,232,566 bushels 
of grain and potatoes, though to this at least 10 per cent, must be 
added for deficient returns. By a laborious calculation — founded 
upon a comparison of the assessors' returns of the crop of 1859, with 
the assessors' returns of the same crop for 20 counties — I am able to 
give a close approximation to the area tilled for 1859. The result 
corrected for deficient returns * as compared with that of 1860 is as 
follows : — 

* That is adding 10 per cent, to the census returns for 1859, and 20 per cent, 
to the assessors' returns of 1860. 



176 



i,. M tvii „j No. Bushels of Grain and 

Aiea iiu-ci. Potatoes produced. 

1859 345,000 10,155,822 

1860 433,267 14,693,517 

This does not however exhibit the whole agricultural growth, 
for while only 34 per cent, of the tilled area of 1859 was in wheat, 
53 per cent, of that of 1860 was in this crop ; so that the relative 
increase in the quantity of grain produced is much less than the 
increase in its value and weight. 

To show how far cultivation has advanced in Minnesota, not- 
withstanding the newness of the country, beyond the ordinary 
standards — taking population as a measure — let us compare it with 
other States in this respect. 



First — As to cultivation- 



No. Acres Tilled. 

433,267 
5,000,000 
4,072,000 



Minnesota . . 1860 
Ohio . . . . 185S 
New York . . 1855 
Second — As to product of grain and potatoes — 

% No. Bushels. 

Minnesota, 1860 . . 
Ohio, average, 1857-58 
New York, 1855 . . 
Austrian Gallicia . . 



No. Acres 
to each Inhabitant. 

. 2-6 
. 2-2 
. 1-7 



No. Bushels 
to each Person. 

49 

21-;- 

14i 



14,693,517 . . 
112,883,870 . . 
76,639,910 . . 
67,409,145 . . 
Such a degree of agricultural development as is here shown in 
a State, which eight years ago was a wilderness, has certainly not 
been witnessed before in so short a period in any American State, 
and it is doubtful if history affords its parallel. 



GENERAL RESULTS OF AGRICULTURE. 



Adding 20 per 
exhibits the area 
each 100 acres of 
each crop in 1860 



cent, for deficient returns, the following table 
and product of each crop and the proportion of 
the whole cultivated area which was occupied by 



Crop. 


Xo. Acres in 


Ratio per Cent. 


Xo. of Bushels 


Average yield 


each Crop. 


of Tilled Area. 


produced. 


per Acre. 


Wheat . 


. 230,315 


53-38 


5,101,432 


22-05 


Rye . . 


. 13,276 


3-06 


286.125 


21-56 


Barley . . 


9,07:] 


2-09 


301,539 


33-23 


Oats * . . 


. 68,714 


15-85 


2,912,857 


42-39 


Buckwheat 


3,618 


83 


56.929 


15-73 


Corn . . 


. 88,126 


20-34 


3,143,577 


3567 


Potatoes . 


. 16,687 


3-85 


2,303,308 


138-00 


Beans . . 


694 


15 


10,932 


15-7 


Sorghum . 


159 


03 


*11,830 


*72-5 


Timothy . 


1,597 


32 


2,779 


• • 




* Gallons of syrup 


. 





177 



Staple Agricultural Productions. 
1849. 



Bushels of wheat . . 
rye . . . 
oats . . . 
Indian corn 
barley . . 
buckwheat 
potatoes 
peas and beans 



1,401 

123 

30,582 

16,725 

1,216 

515 

21,145 

10,002 



1859* 
Census. 



Tons of hay 2,019 



2,154,017 

142,877 

2,131,333 

2,794,318 

125,104 

25,195 

1,859,632 

18,371 

249,974 



1860| 

Assessors' 
Returns. 

5,001,432 

286,125 

2,912,857 

3,143,577 

301,539 

56,929 

2,303,308 

No returns. 

300,000 



Miscellaneous Agricultural Products. 

1850. 1860. 

Pounds of tobacco 34,955 

Bushels of sweet potatoes % . . . 200 897 

Bushels of clover seed 159 

Bushels of grass seed 3,506 

Pounds of hops % 83 

Tons of hemp 272 

Pounds of flax 1,529 

Bushels of flax seed 211 

Pounds of maple sugar § . . . .2,950 353,633 

Gallons of maple syrup 24,403 

Gallons of sorghum syrup 7,048 

Pounds of beeswax 1,838 

Pounds of honey 20,290 

Pounds of beeswax and honey . . 80 29,128 

Gallons of wine 833 

Value of orchard products 7,475 dols. 

Value of produce of market gardens. 150dols. 160,108 „ 

Value of home manufactures 6,394 „ 



Live Stock. 



Horses. . . . 
Asses and mules 



1850. 

860 
14 



I860. 

16,879 

384 



* I have before given the reasons for the belief that at least 10 per cent, must 
be added to the census returns of agricultural productions, as here given, to obtain 
the closest approximation to the actual result. 

f In this column I have added 20 per cent, to the assessors' returns to correct 
the deficiencies already explained. The returned results by counties are given in 
the table annexed. 

% These articles are generally grown in mai*ket gardens, and, when these are 
not attached to farms, are not enumerated specifically in the census schedules, but 
are probably included in the item " Value of produce of market gardens." Wild 
hops grow in great luxuriance in the timber. 

§ This includes only the maple sugar made by the farmers. As much again, 
probably, is made by the Indians and others. 

N 



178 



Horses, asses, and mules 
Working oxen 
Milch cows . 
Other cattle . 
Total neat cattle 
Sheep . . . 
Swine . . . 
Value of live stock 



1850. 

874 
655 
607 
740 
2,002 
80 
734 



I860. 

17,263 
17,290 
38,938 
49,781 

106,009 
12,595 

104,479 



92,859 dols. 3,210,769 dols. 



Animal Products. 



Pounds of butter . . . 
Pounds of cheese . . 
Total dairy products . . 
Pounds of wool .... 
Value of slaughtered animals 



1850. 

1,100 
1,100 



I860. 

2,839,500 

186,527 

3,026,027 

19,306 



2,840dols. 480,162dols. 



PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 

Prices are fluctuating, but range as follows : — 

Wheat, from 50 cents to 65 cents. 

Bye, from 20 cents to 25 cents. 

Barley, from 30 cents to 40 cents. 

Oats, from 12 cents to 18 cents— 22 to 30 in the fall of 1861. 

Corn, from 30 cents to 40 cents. 

Butter, from 7 cents to 8 cents, or from 10 cents to 12 cents 
for choice rolls. 

Pork, from 2 cents to 4 cents. 

Eggs, from 6 cents to 10 cents. 

Cheese, from 9 cents to 10 cents. 

Beef, from 1 dollar 75 cents to 2 dollars 75 cents. 

Potatoes, from 15 cents to 18 cents in the fall, and from 
20 cents to 25 cents in the summer. 

Cranberries, from 90 cents to 1 dollar 50 cents per bushel. 

Flour, from 3 dollars to 3 dollars 50 cents for superfine ; and 
from 3 dollars 75 cents to 4 dollars for extra. 



VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF 1860. 

Wheat, at 55 cents 2,805,787 

Rye, at 23 cents 65,808 

Oats, at 20 cents 582,571 

Corn, at 35 cents 1,110,251 

Barley, at 35 cents 105,538 

Buckwheat at 60 cents 34,157 

Potatoes at 18 cents 414,595 

300,000 tons of hay at 2 dollars per ton . 600,000 



dols. 



179 

200,000 lbs. of cheese at 10 cents, per lb 
3,000,000 lbs. of butter at 8 cents, per lb 
Value of produce of market gardens . 
Value of animals slaughtered . . . 
25,000 lbs. of wool at 20 cents. . . 
400,000 lbs. of maple sugar at 10 cents. 
Miscellaneous products 



20,000 

240,000 

175,000 

500,000 

5,000 

40,000 

50,000 



dols. 



Total value of agricultural products of 1860 6,748,707 „ 
The shipments of St. Paul for 1861, as compiled for the daily- 
newspapers, exclusive of transhipments, not landed at the levee, 
from the Minnesota River, were stated as follows in the Press, 
of Jan. 1, 1862:— 

Flour, bbls. . . 25,600 

Wheat, bush 527,087 

Oats „ 12,000 

Barley „ 7,260 

Beans „ 500 

Pork, bbls. 2,430 

Bacon, lbs 105,566 

Lard, bbls 800 

Cranberries, bush 4,542 

Butter, lbs 9,000 

Dry and Green hides, number . . . 27,109 

Ginseng, lbs 208,650 

Potatoes, bush 3,000 

Deer skins 3,000 

Onions, bush 500 

Wool, lbs 3,000 

Furs, amount 200,000 dols. 



TABLE SHOWING THE GROWTH OF PROPERTY IN TEN YEARS. 



Year. 


No of 
Assessed 


Valuation of 
Real and 




Ratios 
of Increase 


Populatior 




Counties. 


Personal Estate 




per Cent. 




1849 . . 


1 


514,936 dols. 


— 


4,049 


1850 . . 


6 


806,437 


}} 


56 


6,077 


1851 . . 


3 


1,282,123 


>) 


59 


7,000 


1852 . 


8 


1,715,835 


>3 


33 


10,000 


1853 . 


6 


2,701,437 


)> 


51 


14,000 


1854 . 


13 


3,508,518 


if 


29 


32,000 


1855 . . 


18 


10,424,157 


ii 


197 


40,000 


1856 . 


24 


24,394,395 


)) 


134 


100,000 


1857 . 


31 


49,336,673 


}> 


102 


150,037 


1858 . 


37 


41,846,778 


» 


15 


156,000 


1859 . 


40 


35,564,492-70 


15 


162,000 


1860 . 


41 


36,753,408 


>i 


3 


172,022 


1861 , 


. 41 


38,712,427 
N 2 


)) 


5 


200,000 



180 



PROGRESS OF POPULATION. 



By the Territorial census of 1849, the population of the terri- 
tory of Minnesota, embracing what is now Dakota, was 4780. Of 
this number, the returns show 723 for settlements now outside of 
the State, leaving the population of the State, as now bounded, 
4057. The United States census of Minnesota territory for 1850, 
showed a population of 6077. Subtracting therefrom the number 
given the previous year for Dakota, not otherwise ascertainable, 
the result for the State, as now bounded, would be 5354. 

The following table, then, exhibits the growth of population in 
Minnesota for ten years, within the limits of the present State : — 



Year. 


Authority. 


Number. 


1849 . 


. Territorial census 


4,057 


1850 . 


. United States census 


5,354 


1857 . 


. Territorial census . . 


150,037 


1860 . 


. United States census 


172,022 


1865 . 


. Computed .... 


350,000 



The following table will show the movement of population in 
eight States of the north-west in the last decade, as compared with 
Minnesota : — 





Population. 


Population. 


Actual 


Increase 




1850. 


1860. 


Increase. 


per Cent. 


Minnesota . 


5,330 


172,022 


166,692 


3,127 


Iowa . . 


192,214 


674,948 


482,734 


251 


Wisconsin . 


305,391 


775,873 


470,472 


154 


Illinois . . 


851,470 


1,711,753 


860,283 


101 


Michigan . 


397,654 


749,112 


251,458 


88 


Indiana 


988,416 


1,350,479 


362,063 


36 


Ohio . . 


1,980,329 


2,339,599 


359,270 


18 


Kansas . 




107,110 


107,110 





Total . 4,720,804 7,880,896 3,180,082 



THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA. 
{Testimony of Hon. Win. H. Seward.) 

" I find myself now, for the first time, upon the highlands in 
the centre of the continent of North America, equi-distant from the 
waters of Hudson's Bay and the Gulf of Mexico — from the Atlantic 
Ocean to the ocean in which the sun sets. Here upon the spot 
where spring up almost side by side, so that they may kiss each 
other, the two great rivers, the one of which, pursuing its strange, 
capricious, majestic, vivacious career through lake, cascade, and 
river rapid, and lake after lake, and river after river, cataract and 
bay, and lake and rapids, finally, after a course of 2000 miles, 
brings your commerce half-way to Europe ; the other, after passing 



181 

through highlands and prairie, a distance of 2000 miles, taking 
tributary after tributary from the east to the west, bringing together 
waters from the western declivity of the Alleghanies, and from 
those which trickle down the eastern sides of the Rocky Mountains, 
finds its way into the Gulf of Mexico. 

n Here is the place — the central place — where the agriculture 
of the richest region of North America must pour out its tributes 
to the whole world. On the east, all along the shore of Lake 
Superior, and west, stretching in one broad plain, in a belt quite 
across the continent, is a country where State after State is yet to 
arise, and where the productions for the support of human society 
in other old crowded States must be brought forth. 

" This is, then, a commanding field ; but it is as commanding in 
regard to the destinies of this country, and of this continent, as it is 
in regard to their commercial future ; for power is not permanently 
to reside on the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains, nor in 
the seaports. Seaports have always been overrun and controlled 
by the people of the interior, and the power that shall communicate 
and express the will of men on this continent is to be located in the 
Mississippi Valley, and at the sources of the Mississippi and St. 
Lawrence. 

" In our day, studying perhaps what might have seemed to 
others trifling or visionary, I had cast about for the future and 
ultimate central seat of the power of the North American people. 
I had looked at Quebec, New Orleans, at Washington and San 
Francisco, at Cincinnati and St. Louis, and it had been the result of 
my conjecture that the seat of power for North America would yet 
be found in the valley of Mexico, and the glories of the Aztec 
capital would be surrendered, in its becoming ultimately and at last 
the capital of the United States of America. But I have corrected 
that view ; I now believe that the ultimate last seat of government 
on this great continent will be found someiohere within a circle or 
radius not very far from the spot on which I stand at the head of 
navigation on the Mississippi River." 



CONCLUSION. 

Such are the facts in reference to Minnesota, the " North Star" 
of the Western States. We have in the dry details and facts pre- 
sented to the reader, striven to give an idea of the future from 
a contemplation of a history of the past. Through that State must 
pass the railway on its way to the Pacific. We are only on' the 
threshold of the splendour of American history ; its future, judged 
by the past, is beyond all conjecture. 

THE RAILWAY THROUGH MINNESOTA. 

The United States and the State of Minnesota have granted 



lands for the purpose of building the railways of that State ; and 
without specially referring here to their amount, or entering into any 
detail as to the plan or arrangement necessary for their completion, 
we propose to consider the value of these lands by contrasting the 
grant of the Illinois Central Railroad. 



2,000,000 acres. 
250,000 acres. 



ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

The grant of land to the Illinois Central Railroad Company 
embraces 4055 square miles, or 

The grant thus bestowed was 2,595,000 acres. 

Of which there have been 
appropriated to secure the 
payment of 17,000,000 dol- 
lars of Construction Bonds . 
To secure the payment of in- 
terest on said Bonds . . . 
To secure the payment of 
3,000,000 dollars of Free- 
land Bonds 345,000 acres. 

2,595,000 acres. 

Hence, the Company's lands are respectively designated as 
Construction, Free Lands, and Interest Lands. 

The Indenture with the Trustees prescribes that there shall be 
set apart, — 

50,000 at 20 dols. per acre, until there be realized 1,000,000 dols. 
350,000 at 15 „ „ „ 5,200,000 „ 

1,300,000 at 8 „ „ „ 10,400,000 „ 

300,000 at 5 „ „ „ 1,500,000 „ 

The Company have already sold about 1,200,000 acres of land, 
comprised in this grant, for the sum of 15,600,000 dollars; this is 
less than one-half of the grant, and the unsold portion will un- 
doubtedly bring a sum equal to that of the portion sold. 

During the last two years upwards of 6000 buyers have taken 
an average of less than 60 acres, and therefore owe less than 1000 
dollars each. With one or two good harvests many of them will 
repay this small amount, which meantime is running at 6 per cent, 
interest. There are still 1,282,626 acres of land for sale. Of the 
Company's lands 1,312,373 acres have been sold; 6,749,814 dollars 
88 cents have been collected from these sales in cash, leaving 
9,914,008 dollars 56 cents balance due on contracts in hand, which 
relate to 928,429 acres ; the payments in full have been made on 
383,944 acres only. Thus the sales embrace — 

Acres. Dollars. 

383,944. 59 . . Cash . . 6,749,814. 88 
928,429. 17 . . Contracts . 9,914,008. 56 



1,312,373. 76 



16,663.823. 44 



188 

Now, the cost of the Illinois Central Railroad, including every- 
thing connected with the road, has been '28,610,229 dollars, and the 
sale of lands will amount to at least 35,000,000 dollars. Thus the 
lands pay in the end for the road. Suppose Minnesota grants lands 
as a basis for the structure of her railroads, and suppose European 
capitalists have the common sense to view correctly the lesson 
which the history of Illinois teaches, the prospect for bond-holders 
and property-holders, for merchants, financiers, speculators, and 
emigrants holding land in Minnesota, is without an equal. 

There is no State like Minnesota ; her climates, her forests, her 
rivers, her prairies, her position at the head of great watercourses 
is something marvellous. She points fearlessly to the map — she 
knows where she stands in the geographical centre. Through 
her paths, her forest openings, across her rivers, and onward 
moving, the line of emigration will pursue its course towards the 
Rocky Mountains. 

FROM MINNESOTA TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

The Secretary of the Treasury for the United States says, " The 
necessity of more than one highway between the Mississippi States 
and the Pacific coast will appear from an enumeration of the rail- 
road lines which are indispensable to the commerce between the 
Atlantic and interior States. These are seven well-defined tho- 
roughfares : (1) From Portland, by the Grand Trunk, to Detroit, 
and thence, with a traverse of the State and Lake of Michigan, to 
Milwaukee and La Crosse ; (2) by the New York Central, the 
Great Western of Canada, and the Chicago and North- Western 
Railroad, to Prairie du Chien ; (3) by the New York and Erie, the 
lines of Ohio and Indiana south of the great lakes, and the Illinois 
Central, to Galena; (4) the Pennsylvania Central and its western 
connexions, to Rock Island ; (5) the Baltimore and Ohio, by way of 
Cincinnatti to St. Louis ; (6) from Richmond, through the Cumber- 
land Valley, to Memphis ; and (7) from Charleston and Savannah, 
traversing the States of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, to 
Vicksburg and New Orleans. All these highways are thronged 
and prosperous, and, with the wonderful impulse to colonization 
and commerce induced by mining investments, a period of 25 years 
will probably witness the completion of four great continental com- 
munications within the limits of the north temperate zone, and 
upon the following lines : — 

" 1. Through the southern tier of States, on or near the parallel 
of 35°, which is central to the region of cotton, the sugar-cane, and 
the vine, and which will be supported by the populations of 
Louisiana, Arkansas, Neosho (or the territory occupied by the 
Cherokee and Choctaw Indians), Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, So- 
nora, and Southern California. This may be called the Gulf route, 
from its relation to the Gulfs of Mexico and California. 



184 

" 2. The Central, which is now in course of construction, on 
the average latitude of 40°. With its present prestige and aid from 
the Federal Government, soon to be increased by the intervention 
of State governments in its behalf, the speedy construction of this 
road may be anticipated. If in operation at the present moment, 
the road would be financially successful. All the resources of 
Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and, in a great degree, 
of Missouri and California, are pledged to such a result. 

" S. The Lake route, hitherto designated in Congressional de- 
bates as the Northern Pacific route, connecting the western coast of 
the great lakes, and the navigable channel of the Columbia River, 
by the most direct and feasible communication with which the ter- 
ritories and future States of Dakota, Montano, Idaho, and Wash- 
ington, as well as the States of Minnesota and Oregon, are 
identified. 

" 4. The International route, or an extension of the Canadian 
railway system across the peninsula of Michigan, and through Wis- 
consin and Minnesota, to the English colony of Selkirk, in latitude 
50°, and thence, through the valleys of the Saskatchewan and Upper 
Fraser Rivers, to the Pacific coast in latitude 54°. 

"The prediction is hazarded that the year 1890 will witness the 
consummation of the 8000 miles of interior railroad above indicated. 
A more accurate statement would be, that whenever, along either 
of these routes, a population shall be assembled of 2,000,000 of 
souls, then will follow, by an irresistible social law, the construction 
and support of 2000 miles of railroad. The probability of that 
aggregate of population by the year 1870 has been considered on 
the central line. The situation of the more southern communica- 
tion has been also referred to, and some space will now be given to 
the probabilities that, by the year 1^90, the great lakes will be con- 
nected by railroad with the Columbia River and Puget's Sound, 
while 1880 is likely to witness the completion of the international 
railroad upon the average latitude of 52° north." 

Now, the United States is lending all the aid she possibly can 
towards a direct route through her territories, but the natural 
obstacles to be surmounted are not to be forgotten. She has ap- 
propriated enormous amounts of money for exploration and surveys, 
and for their publication, and her people have pushed their way 
westward, and populated and developed regions that require hard- 
ship, self-denial, and great perseverance, to make habitable. 

Look at the territories of Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, 
and Nebraska. 

COLORADO. 

Colorado territory, with a white population of 34,231 in 1860, 
and an estimated area of 100,000 square miles, or 66,880,000 acres, 
has nearly doubled in population during the first three years of the 



185 

current decade. The population in January, 1864, may be fairly 
stated at 60,000. The production of gold in 1862 was 10,000,000 
dollars, which will probably reach ] 5,000,000 dollars during 1864. 

KANSAS AND NEBRASKA. 

The census of 1860 returned the population of the interior dis- 
tricts, which are connected with the overland trade west of the 
Missouri River as follows : — 

New Mexico 83,009 

Colorado 34,277 

Utah 40,273 



157,559 



In 1860 a special correspondent of the New York Herald 
furnished the following statement : — 

Table showing the Amount of Freight forwarded across the Plains from the 

various Ports on the Missouri River during the Year 1860, with the 

required Outfit. 

Where from. Pounds. Men. Horses. Mules. Oxen. "Waggons. 

Kansas City . 16,439,134 7,084 464 6,149 27,920 3,033 

Leavenworth. 5,65G,082 1,216 . . 206 10,925 1,003 

Atchison . . 6,097,943 1,591 . . 472 13,640 1,280 

St. Joseph. . 1,672,000 490 . . 520 3,980 418 

Nebraska City 5,496,000 896 . . 113 11,118 916 

Omaha City . 713,000 324 377 114 340 272 

Grand total, 36,074,159 11,601 841 7,574 67,950 6,922 

In 1863 a population of 60,000 in Nevada employs for the 
transportation of machinery, merchandise, provisions, &c, from the 
Pacific coast, a number of men, animals, and waggons fully half as 
great as the foregoing exhibit of overland transportation west of 
Kansas and Nebraska. That this table is inadequate to express the 
traffic of 1864, may also be inferred from the consideration of the 
present population of the mountain territories, viz. : — 

New Mexico (no increase) .... 83,009 

Colorado 60,000 

Utah 80,000 

Montana 12,000 

235,009 

It is not an excessive estimate that the present transportation is 
50,000,000 pounds, employing 10,000 trains, and at a cost of 
5,000,000 dollars annually. In consequence of the war and other 
causes, a considerable diversion of the traffic across the plains has 



186 

taken place* in favour of the northern points of departure from the 
Missouri River ; Kansas City by no means leading in the degree 
indicated in 1860. Whether the traffic will resume its former pro- 
portions, depends altogether upon the railway construction of the 
next twelve months. 

NEVADA. 

The population of Nevada territory by the census of 1860 was 
6857. At the close of 1863 it had reached 60,000, of which nearly 
20,000 was concentrated at Virginia City, the centre of the most 
productive silver district. Within four years 5,000,000 dollars have 
been expended in erecting quartz-mills and reduction works; 
another 5,000,000 dollars have been laid out in opening the mines, 
and three times as much in various kinds of improvement. In 
waggon roads alone, leading into and through the territory, 500,000 
dollars have been spent — an investment that has paid from 40 to 80 
per cent, per annum. The tolls collected on these roads during 
the year 1863 reached at least the sum of 200,000 dollars. The 
money paid on freights coming into the territory from the Pacific 
coast amounted to fully 3,000,000 dollars. About 3000 teams of 
various kinds are employed in this business, besides numerous 
pack trains. 

UTAH. 

The settlements of Great Salt Lake City, and elsewhere in 
Utah territory, have directed their industry exclusively to agricul- 
ture and domestic manufactures. Their ecclesiastical rulers, by 
giving such a direction to the labour of the people, have shown 
great sagacity, for not only is society organized on surer foundations 
than in mining districts, but the demand for all the products of 
Utah has been so constant and remunerative as to furnish an 
advantageous home market. Simultaneously with the first settle- 
ment at Salt Lake the overland emigration to California commenced, 
and has increased from year to year until in 1863 it meets a return 
column of adventurers who are pushing eastward and northward to 
the gold-fields of Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. The consumption 
by the crowds in transit, both east and west, sustains the prices of 
provisions and manufactures at rates which encourage population 
and accumulate wealth. 

By the census of 1860 the population of Utah was 40,273, an 
increase of 253*89 per cent, since 1850. The total valuation o* 
property was 986,083 dollars in 1850, and 5,596,118 dollars in 
1860, or an increase of 467*50 per cent. If these proportions 
continue during the present decade, the population of Utah will 
be 142,525, and the valuation of property 31,757,966 dollars in 
1870. 



187 



SOUTH PACIFIC RAILWAY. 

Estimated Cost. 



Sections. 


Dis- 
tance. 


Prepara- 
tion of 
Road-Bed 


Super- 
structure. 


Equip- 
ment. 


Engineer- 
ing & Con- Amount, 
tingencies.; 


Fort Smith to head of Pajarito Creek . 
Head of Pajarito Creek to Isleta . . . 

Isleta to Campbell's Pass 

Campbell's Pass to mouth of Rio Puerco 


706 
144 
116 7 

121 
35 
81 
87 

233 
27*5 
53-7 
968 

70-5 

63 
38-5 

288 


Dollars. | Dollars. 
5,294,472 11,192,690 
5,995,800 ! 2,769,764 
1,564,500 2,558,540 

1,840 070 9 sns si 4. 


Dollars. 

2,747,500 
706,000 
570,500 

670,500 
142,400 
434,300 
478,900 
113,300 
169,100 
431,800 
731,700 

380,900 

513,000 


Dollars. 

1,923,466 
947,156 
469,354 

531,438 
128,826 
654,936 
754,762 
94,130 
193,966 
426,006 
823,712 

265,165 

263,282 


Dollars. 
21,158,128 
10,418,720 

5,162,894 

5,845,822 
1,417,082 
7,204,298 
8,302,380 
1,035,434 
2,133,622 
2,556,038 
4,941,274 

2,916,810 

2,896,103 
3,465,000 


Valley of Flax River 

Flax River to Leroux's Spring .... 
Leroux's Spring to Aztec Pass .... 
Aztec Pass to Cross Mountain .... 
Cross Mountain to Big Sandy .... 

Big Sandy to Rio Colorado 

Rio Colorado to Soda Lake 

Soda Lake to point of leaving Mojave 


371,000 
4,401,400 
5,281,174 

351,580 
1,207,000 

599,100 
1,380,800 

822,400 

856,200 


774,856 
1,713,662 
1,787,544 
476,424 
563,556 
1,099,132 
2,006,062 

1,448,345 

1,263,621 


Point of leaving Mojave River to Tah- 
ee-chay-pah Pass 

Through Tah-ee-chay-pah Pass . . . 


Tah-ee-chay-pah Pass to San Francisco 










14,400,000 




. . . . . 




From Fort Smith to San Francisco . . 


1,952 


1 




| 93,853,605 








Average 








48,081 






. ... . | .... i . . . . ! .... 



INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC RAILWAY. 

In reference to a route beyond Pembina, we shall throw out no 
suggestions of our own, but simply give the testimony of Captains 
Palisser and Blakiston, who were specially delegated by the British 
Government to survey this whole region, with reference to its 
adaptability for a railway. Captain Palisser says : 

" The connexion, therefore, of the Saskatchewan Plains, east of 
the Rocky Mountains, with a known route through British Columbia, 
has been effected by the expedition under my command, without 
our having been under the necessity of passing through any portion 
of United States territory. Still, the knowledge of the country on 
the whole would never lead me to advocate a line of communication 
from Canada across the continent to the Pacific, exclusively through 
British territory. The time has now for ever gone by for effecting 
such an object, and the unfortunate choice of an astronomical 
boundary-line has completely isolated the Central American pos- 
sessions of Great Britain from Canada in the east, and also almost 
debarred them from any eligible access from the Pacific coast on 
the west. 

" The settler, who will always adopt the shortest and least ex- 
pensive route, will undoubtedly follow the line of traverse indicated 
by the formation of the country. 

" He will travel by steamer along the Canadian lakes through 
Saut Ste. Marie to Superior City, situated at the extremity of the 
6 Fond du Lac,' or most western extremity of Lake Superior ; 
and he will then be only 70 or 80 miles distant from Crow 



188 

Wing, on the high road between St. Paul's and the Red River 
Settlement. 

" American squatters and lumberers are rapidly settling up Red 
River, and the railway communication (now nearly complete to St. 
Paul's) will soon be completed to Pembina, in which case the esta- 
blishment of a branch line to Superior ' Fond du Lac ' would be a 
positive certainty. Thus, easy and rapid communication would be 
established between Lake Superior and the frontier of Red River 
Settlement. 

" In the event of railway communication being extended as far 
as Pembina, it would not be unreasonable then to entertain the pro- 
spect that the Imperial Government might feel justified in encou- 
raging the extension of such railway on the British side of the line 
to the northward and westward, through the southern portion of 
the 'Fertile Belt' to the Rocky Mountains; at all events, as soon as 
the country showed symptoms of becoming sufficiently populated to 
warrant such an effort. 

" As the case at present stands, all communication with the 
colony at Red River is through the States. Soon after the publica- 
tion of my despatch, declaring the navigability of the Red River for 
steamers, American enterprise established one there ; this, as I now 
understand, plies the whole way from Lake Winnipeg to Graham's 
Point, above the forks of the Shienne, and, now that the results of 
the expedition lately under my command are known, even the 
Hudson's Bay Company have adopted the route via St. Paul's and 
Pembina, for bringing their merchandise into this country. As for 
the importation of horses, cows, and any other species of live stock, 
all such traffic would be impossible either via Hudson's Bay or by 
the canoe route. 

" There is, however, another means of proceeding from the 
Columbia to the westward, in a more northern latitude, which 
I can advocate upon excellent authority,* although I cannot 
describe it from personal observation. 

" The Columbia River, north of the boundary-line, is navigable 
by steamers the whole way up the Great Columbia Lakes, and 
above the most northern one to an extensive plain or table-land, 
along which my informant has taken heavily laden horses with ease 
round both the northern and the southern shores of the Great 
Okanagan Lake to the forks of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers. 

" A steamer here would not only serve for effecting communica- 
tion between the Saskatchewan Plains and the west coast of British 
Columbia, but would also form an additional link to that chain of 
American steamers already along the Columbia from Astoria on the 
Pacific coast. 



* Namely, that of Mr. Angus McDonnell, one of the gentlemen in charge of 
Fort Hope, and subsequently of Fort Colville, where he had been long resident, 
and in the constant habit of travelling backwards and forwards through the country. 






189 

" From Astoria, ocean steamers can ascend the Columbia River 
up to the point where it cuts the Cascade range, a distance of 135 
miles ; here a boarded portage and tramway, about 2 miles long, 
enables the traveller to reach a second steamer which runs up to 
the Dalles, distant about 48 miles. At this place a steep waggon 
road, which is kept in good order, takes the traveller on to the Des 
Chutes, a distance of 12 miles, whence a third steamer runs up as 
far as old "Walla "Walla, and when occasion requires up to Priest's 
Rapids, distant from the Des Chutes 180 miles." 

TESTIMONY OF CAPTAIN BLAKTSTON, B.E. 

" Being now at the western extremity of the Kootanie Pass, I 
will pause to point out the capabilities it affords for a railway across 
the mountains within the British possessions. I should premise 
that I have not sufficient evidence to be able to state that the 
Kootanie Pass is absolutely the most advantageous place for the 
crossing of a railroad from the Saskatchewan Plains to the Pacific, 
because the mountains to the north have not yet been sufficiently 
explored ; but I am able to say that it is the most southern line 
within the British territory, and, as yet, by far the shortest ; more- 
over, I have every reason to believe that the most suitable portion 
of the mountains for the passage of a railroad will be found to the 
south of Bow River. 

" The Kootanie Pass crosses the Rocky Mountains from the 
Great Saskatchewan Plains on the east, to the Tobacco Plains on 
the west, its extremity on the former side being -10 and on the latter 
18 English miles to the northward of the international boundarv, the 
49th parallel of north latitude. Its length is 40 geographical or 
nearlv 47 English miles, extending from longitude 114' 34 to 
115° 24 west. It leaves the Saskatchewan Plains where they have 
an altitude of about 4000 feet above the sea, rises 2000 feet to the 
watershed of the mountains, descends to Flathead River, again rises 
to an altitude of 4000, follows up this river to its head waters, then 
crosses a precipitous ridge, reaching an altitude of 6000 feet ; it 
then descends the great western slope, falling 2000 feet in 2 miles 
of horizontal distance, after which, by a nearly uniform grade of 
100 feet per geographical mile, it gains the Tobacco Plains at the 
point where the Wigwam branch enters Kootanie or Elk River. 

'*' By reference to Section No. 1, it will be seen that there are 
three obstacles to the passage of a railroad — namely, two mountains 
and one steep slope. As to the mountains, they could, I consider, 
without difficulty be pierced by tunnels. The great western slope 
is a more serious obstacle ; however, in the following details I hope 
to show that it also may be overcome. 

" From the forks of Belly River, on the east side the line would 
traverse the gradually ascending prairie to the entrance of the pass 
where Railway River issues from the mountains. This river would 



190 

be followed up with a grade of 1 in 180, or 34 feet per geographical 
mile for 7^ miles, the ' river levels' affording considerable advan- 
tages ; leaving this river it would follow the course of my track 
marked on the map. A cutting of about 3-J miles would lead to a 
tunnel of nearly 5 miles in length, which would pierce the Water- 
shed Mountain, and come out in the valley of Flathead River, the 
whole having a grade of 1 in 130, or 47 feet per geographical mile. 
On emerging into the valley, the line would skirt the base of the 
mountains to the north of the track, thereby avoiding a steep 
descent, then following up the river with a grade of 40 feet per 
geographical mile, it would reach the rise of the western ridge at a 
height of 5100 feet above the sea. This would be the culminating 
point of the line, from which in a distance of 10 geographical miles 
it has to fall 1900 feet to the North and South Bluff, and after that, 
by a slope of 54 feet per geographical mile for 5 miles, to reach the 
Tobacco Plains, crossing the Kootanie Fork by a bridge. This I 
propose to accomplish in the following manner : — From the culmi- 
nating point, to pierce the ridge by a tunnel of 3 geographical miles, 
and continue the line along the side of the hills to the north of the 
track reaching the North Bluff, the whole with a grade of 190 feet 
per geographical mile. This portion of the line of 10 geographical 
miles would have to be worked by a wire rope, and one or more 
stationary engines. Regarding the remaining 5 miles to the west 
of the North and South Bluffs, a careful survey is required to 
determine whether a grade not too steep for locomotives can be 
made. My measurements, taken with so uncertain an instrument 
as an aneroid barometer, must not be depended on to a few feet ; 
they give a fall of .54 feet per geographical mile, or 1 in 112. 

" As regards the country to the west of the Kootanie Fork I can 
say nothing, but that no mountains were visible to the distance I 
could see, neither have I any personal knowledge of the Saskatche- 
wan Plains to the eastward of the forks of Belly River ; but it is 
probable that these great prairies stretch without break from this 
point to the Red River Settlement, and that in the construction of 
a railroad, little more labour would be required than that of laying 
down the rails. The following statement of distances to be traversed 
by a railroad to the Pacific within the British territories may be of 

interest : — 

Geo. Miles. 
Lake Superior to Red River Settlement . . 320 
Red River Settlement, via Elbow of South 
Branch of Saskatchewan to Rocky Moun- 
tains 700 

Kootanie Pass 40 

West End of Kootanie Pass to Mouth of 

Fraser's River, Gulf of Georgia .... 300 

Total, Lake Superior to Pacific . . 1360 
Probable length of railroad, 2300 miles English. 



191 

" Thus it will be seen that out of the whole distance one-half is 
over level prairies, and but 40 miles through mountains. 

" There are now two steamers on the Red River of the North. 
With our present news there will be a necessity, in July, for a pro- 
peller through Lake Winnepeg, and a river steamer on the 
Saskatchewan. These furnished with a water communication from 
Georgetown, in Minnesota, would transport an emigrant to the 
new Eldorado in the Rocky Mountains, from which the Fraser flows 
to the Pacific, the Peace River to the Arctic Ocean, and the Sas- 
katchewan to Hudson's Bay." 

" The conception of an Inter-Oceanic Railway (writes an able 
correspondent of the Times), commencing at Halifax, and after 
passing in its entire length of 3200 miles, terminating at the new 
Liverpool, which, we may confidently hope, will, in a few years, 
rise up on the southern shore of Vancouver Island, is one the mag- 
nitude and importance of which cannot be over estimated. As com- 
pared with the route to British Columbia via Panama, the Inter- 
Oceanic line would effect a saving of 22 days, while the position 
of Vancouver Island, as contrasted with Panama, in relation to 
China and Australia, is also very significant. 

Miles. 

Panama to Canton, about 10,000 

Vancouver Island to Canton . . . 9,000 

Panama to Sydney 8,200 

Vancouver Island to Sydney . . . 7,200 

"This proximity to Australia," continues the writer, "is espe- 
cially worthy of note at a time when the transmission of the mails 
across the Pacific is again being prominently advocated. It will be 
apparent from the aforegiven distances, that by transmitting the 
Australian mails from England to the Pacific across British North 
America via Vancouver Island, instead of via Panama, a saving of 
five days is effected between England and the Pacific, and of 1000 
miles, or say five days more, in the passage across that ocean — ten 
days saved in all. 

" The advantages to Great Britain which would accrue conse- 
quent upon the entire service being performed through British ter- 
ritory are beyond all calculation. The construction of the railway 
would not merely open up to civilization a large territory in British 
North America hitherto almost unexplored, but it would open up 
to the cultivators of the soil in that territory and in Canada a means 
of transit to all the markets of the Pacific, and an open passage to 
the China seas and to our possessions in the East Indies. In every 
aspect, whether viewed politically, socially, or commercially, the 
establishment of the proposed railway would give a progressive 
impulse to the affairs of the world, which, in its results, would 
eclipse anything which has been witnessed even amid the extra- 
ordinary development of the present century. That the railway will 
infallibly be made is as certain as that now is the time to undertake 









192 

it. One does not require to be a prophet to predict that when the 
resources of British Columbia are fully opened up, and a communi- 
cation established between the Atlantic and the Pacific, there will 
be enough traffic for a dozen steamers as large as the Great Eastern 
on both oceans. The British empire has now the opportunity of 
securing that position which it has hitherto occupied without dis- 
pute as the greatest commercial nation in the world." 

Speaking on this subject, T. D. M f Gee (quoted in the Canadian 
News, of the 31st of October, 1861) remarks: "But there is a 
more important consideration connected with the territory of the 
Hudson Bay Company, for we know that through its prairies is to 
be found the shortest and best railroad route to the Pacific. Every 
one can understand that the American route from Western Europe 
to Asia, which lies farthest to the north, must be the most direct. 
Any one glancing at a globe will see where the 46th degree 
parallel leads the eye from the heart of Germany, through the 
British Channel, across to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and from our 
gulf westward to the Saskatchewan, to Vancouver's Island — the 
Cuba of the North Pacific — and from Vancouver to the rich and 
populous archipelago of Japan. This course was demonstrated by 
Captain Synge to be 2000 miles shorter between London and Hong 
Kong than any other in existence ; it has but one formidable engi- 
neering difficulty to be overcome — an elevation of 6000 feet above 
the sea-level in crossing the Rocky Mountains into Columbia. 
Such at least is the carefully-guarded statement of Mr. Stevens, the 
late American Governor of Washington territory, and such is said 
to be the result arrived at by Captain Palisscr's more recent explo- 
rations. By a short tunnel at the favourable pass, the elevation 
may be reduced to 5000 feet, f whose gradients/ it has been cal- 
culated, ' need not exceed 60 feet per mile, from the head of Lake 
Superior to Pugct Sound.' An elevation of 5000 feet is not an 
insuperable obstacle, as has been shown at Mount Cenis and the 
Alleghanics. (On the Philadelphia and Pittsburg Eoad at Altona 
the gradient of 96 feet to the mile has been found practicable.) 
The name — * Kocky Mountains ' — is more formidable to the ear 
than to the engineer ; as the latitude has misled us with regard to 
climate, so the latitude has been overrated with regard to cost ; but 
the science of this age once entering upon any experiment, it will 
neither be deterred by regions represented as uninhabitable, nor by 
mountains reputed to be impassable." 



193 



CHAPTER IV. 

EMIGRATION. 

Advice to Emigrants to Canada or the United States — Progress of Emigration to 
America — Comparative Increase in Immigration from 1861 to 1864 — Emigra- 
tion from Germany — Laws of Migration — Inducements to Settle in America — 
Stock-Breeding and Raising in Illinois. 



ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS. 

The increase of the population each year in Europe compels a 
certain portion of the inhabitants to seek employment in another 
sphere. We can only say to those who seek either Canada or the 
United States as their future home, that they must be prepared to 
labour and to toil. In America, with ordinary prudence and judi- 
cious selection of land, a competence is almost a necessary result. 
Above all things, we must advise emigrants to avoid one moment's 
longer sojourn in a city than is absolutely necessary. To husband 
the resources is one of the most important rules which the new set- 
tler can lay down — never to spend a penny without he can see an 
absolute return of interest. When we have more leisure we shall 
probably revise this work and devote more space to the subject of 
emigration. The reader will, however, find in the Appendix much 
useful information to guide him. 

The progress of emigration to America is shown in the following 
tables : — 

CANADA. 

Comparative Statement of the Number of Immigrants arriving at the Port 
of Quebec, since the Year 1850 to 1861, inclusive. 

Year. England. Ireland. Scotland. ^S^pe L °wer ports. 

1850 9,887 17,976 2,879 849 701 

1851 9,677 22,381 7,042 1 870 1,106 

1852 9,276 15,983 5,477 7,256 1,184 

1853 9,585 14,417 4,745 7,456 496 

1854 18,175 16,165 6,446 11,537 857 

1855 6,754 4,106 4,859 4,864 691 

1856 10,353 1,688 2,794 7,343 261 

1857 15,471 2,016 3,218 11,368 24 

1858 6,441 1,153 1,424 3,578 214 

1859 4,846 417 793 2,722 

1860 6,481 376 979 2,314 

1861 7,780 413 1,112 10,618 



194 






Total arrivals, between 1850 and 1861 



1829 



1849 



319,993 
632,675 



Grand total 952,668 






ABSTRACT FROM THE CENSUS OF 1861. 

Origin. Upper Canada. Lower Canada. Total. 

Natives not of French Origin , 869,592 167,578 1,037,170 

Of French Origin 33,287 847,320 880,607 

902,879 1,014,898 1,917,777 

Emigrants. , 

England and Wales 114,290 13,539 127,829 

Scotch 98,792 13,362 112,154 

Irish 191,231 50,492 241,723 

United States 50,758 13,611 64,399 

BritishNorth American Provinces 8,084 2,061 10,145 

Germans, Prussians, and Dutch. 22,906 672 23,578 

French 2,389 949 3,338 

Swiss 617 81 698 

Channel Islands 529 628 1,157 

Norwegians and Swedes ... 261 229 490 

East and West Indies .... 735 186 921 

Italians and Greeks 104 114 218 

Spanish and Portuguese ... 96 55 151 

Prussians and Poles 161 56 217 

All other places 541 128 669 

At sea 323 61 384 

Not known 1,395 414 1,809 

493,212 96,668 589,880 

Grand total .... 1,396,091 1,111,566 2,507,657 



ABSTRACT FROM UNITED STATES CENSUS. 
Statement of the Number of Alien Passengers arriving in the United States. 



Year 






Males. 


Females. 


Sex 
not stated. 


Total. 


Year ending Sept. 


30, 1850 . 


196,331 


112,635 


1,038 


310,004 


Quarter ending Dec. 31, 1850 


32,990 


26,805 


181 


59,976 


Year ending Dec. 


31, 1851 . 


217,181 


162,219 


66 


379,466 




1852 . 


212,469 


157,696 


1,438 


371,603 






1853 . 


207,958 


160,615 


72 


368,645 






1854 . 


256,177 


171,656 


. . . 


427,833 






1855 . 


115,307 


85,567 


3 


200,877 






1856 . 


115,846 


84,590 




200,436 






1857 . 


146,215 


105,091 


. . . 


251,306 






1858 . 


72,824 


50,002 


300 


123,126 






1859 . 


69,161 


51,640 


481 


121,282 


>» 


■ 


1860 . 


88,477 


65,077 


86 


153,640 



Total 



2,977,603 2,035,536 



49,275 5,062,414 



The following table, showing the number of immigrants landing 
in the port of New York during the years 1861, 1862, 1863, and 
1864, is highly instructive : — 



19.") 

From From Total of 

Ireland. Germany. Immigrants. 

1861 . . . 27,754 27,159 65,529 

1862 . . . 32,217 27,740 76,306 

1863 . . . 92,681 38,236 155,223 
1864 53,929 185,208 



COMPARATIVE INCREASE. 

The increase in immigration from 1861 to 1864 appears still 
more significant, if we compare it with the emigration statistics of 
former periods. According to the official census of the United 
States, the aggregate number of immigrants was, during the de- 
cade of 



1820 to 1830 . . . 244,490 
1830 to 1840 . . . 552,000 



1840 to 1850 . . . 1,558,300 
1850 to 1860 . . . 2,707,624 



Daring the forty years from 1820 to 1860 the total number of 
immigrants amounted, therefore, to 5,062,414. The annual aver- 
age of immigration during these forty years is 126,560, and the 
average number during the last decade from 1850 to 1860, 270,762. 
The number who landed in the "port of New York alone during the 
year 1864 exceeds, therefore, the average of annual immigration in 
the United States from 1820 to 1860, and even that from 1840 
to 1850, and the ratio of increase indicates that we are rapidly 
approaching the highest annual figure ever reached. 

The increase of immigration since 1861 has been steady, and 
the tendency, may, therefore, be said to be again upward. Ifj for 
the remaining six years of the decade, from 1860 to 1870, the 
number should not exceed that reached in 1864 (185,208), the 
aggregate number of immigrants landed in the port of New York 
alone would be, for the decade, 1,593,514. If it should increase at 
the same rate, as from 1863 to 1864 (about 30,000), the port of 
New York alone would furnish, during the decade from 1860 to 
1870, an addition to our population of about 2,200,000. 

EMIGRATION FROM GERMANY. 

A lecturer in Germany, in speaking of the emigration from that 
country to America, used the following language, in reference to 
the feeling of the people, and made the following statement : — 

In affirming that in no country in the world, Britain alone ex- 
cepted, the gigantic struggle in the United States of America has 
been followed with such intense interest as in Germany, I am simply 
asserting a fact which admits of no question whatever. The ex- 
planation of this fact is obvious. Germany, more than any other 
country in the world (except the United Kingdom) has helped to 
make the Republic of the United States what it is. Next to the 
British Isles, Germany has sent the largest contingent of settlers to 

o 2 


















196 

America. More, I believe, than five millions of her sons and 
daughters are citizens of the United States. Every other man you 
meet here has a brother or sister, an uncle or aunt, and cousins and 
other relatives of all degrees without number on the western side 
of the North Atlantic. From the confines of Russia and Poland — 
from the frontiers of Hungary and even Turkey — from the coasts 
of the Baltic, the Adriatic, and the North Sea — from the smallest 
and most remote hamlet of the interior — from the plains and valleys, 
as well as from the capitals and manufacturing districts, Germans 
of every rank, calling, and acquirements, have deserted the Father- 
land that treated them so unparentally, though they loved it with 
such filial piety, and poured forth for the best part of a century in 
an unbroken and ever-widening stream to join their friends and 
relatives on the shores of the great Western Republic. The yearly 
increasing fleets of emigrant ships leaving the ports of Hamburg, 
Bremen, and Rotterdam are all bound, with the exception of a small 
minority, for New York, Boston, or Baltimore. Fifteen years ago 
the tide of emigration had begun to turn strongly in favour of 
Brazil ; but the nation had no sooner learnt through Herr Sturz, 
the Prussian Consul-General at Rio, that all Germans who set foot 
on Brazilian soil were destined to a lot inferior to that of a coolie, 
than the emigration to Brazil ceased entirely from that moment, and 
returned with greater force than ever into its old channels. Since 
that time the wave of emigration to the United States has but once 
suffered serious interruption. Partly owing to a very natural feel- 
ing of timidity, or prudence, partly owing to the industrious misre- 
presentations of the friends of the South in the Free States and in 
Europe, the emigration in the first year of the rebellion suffered 
great depression. It was in fact reduced to one-fourth of that of 
the preceding year. When, however, the merits of the strife began 
to be seen in their true light, emigration began to recover, and the 
numbers of emigrants during the present year are about equal to 
what they were immediately before the outbreak of the rebellion. 
The returns of the emigration boards at Hamburg and Bremen show 
that up to the end of August of the past year 38,405 persons left 
this country by way of those ports to settle abroad. Of these 17,159 
emigrated from Hamburg, of whom, with the exception of a few 
hundreds who went to Australia and 44 who proceeded to Brazil, 
the whole went to the United States. Eighty-one vessels carried 
the remainder, or 21,246, from the port of Bremen; of this total 
only 86 went to Brazil, 59 to the river Plate, and 513 to Canada. 
All the rest settled in the United States. During the remaining 
four months of the present year it is fair to estimate that 19,000 
more emigrants will leave the country by these two German ports, 
while the number of those who proceed by way of the British, 
Dutch, Belgian, and French ports, as well as Trieste, is estimated 
to amount for the entire year to 17,000. This gives a grand total 
of nearly 75,000 emigrants from Germany for 1861, of whom the 



197 

overwhelming majority (70,000) proceed to the United States. 
This result is not, of course, equal to that of the years 1853-56, 
when an average of 200,000 Germans emigrated from their native 
country. But those were extraordinary and exceptional times. 
It is, however, the published opinion of the two great authorities on 
German emigration — we refer, of course, to Consul-General Sturz 
and Dr. Carl von Scherzer — that the stream of emigration will in 
future direct itself more exclusively, and in larger numbers than 
ever before, to the United States of America. It is also worth 
mentioning that the Brazilian Government has never been able to 
tempt the German emigrant again to its shores, although it has 
lavished vast sums for that purpose. 



LAWS OF MIGRATION. 

Australia and New Zealand have only recently succeeded, by 
the fictitious lure of gold, in diverting a small part of the European 
emigration, and there is no proof that these colonies will form 
any exception to the destiny of fruitless decay which has marked 
all attempts to naturalize the northern races in southern or tropical 
climates. It is only in North America that the principle of social 
life and growth has survived the transplantation of the Germanic 
and Celtic populations of Northern Europe, and not only has the 
singular social energy been able to perpetuate itself here alone, but 
here alone has it found the physical conditions which call forth the 
full measure of its powers. 

North America contains to-day over 30,000,000 of Europeans 
and their descendants. Outside of North America and their native 
seats in the north temperate zone, there are not five millions ot 
the offspring of Europe in all the rest of the world, though it was 
in the South that the first and grandest historic attempts at conquest 
and colonization have been made. Moreover, of the vestiges of 
European migrations which still exist in more southern zones, for 
the most part sunk with all their nobler characteristics in a degrad- 
ing amalgamation with the native tribes, the larger proportion was 
planted by the southern nations of Europe — the Spanish, Portugese, 
and Italians. On the other hand, North America has been peopled 
almost entirely from Northern Europe, from the British Islands, 
Germany, the Netherlands and France, and latterly from Norway 
and Sweden. Of the thirty million white inhabitants of North 
America, over nine-tenths came from these countries occupying the 
district or belt of Northern Europe between the parallels of 48 and 
58 degrees, and of these same thirty millions of North Americans, 
twenty-two millions, or 73 per cent., dwell in the northern districts 
or belts between the parallels of 38 and 46 degrees. In 1850 there 
were 1,942,000 persons of European birth resident in the United 
States. Of these 93 per cent, were from the northern districts of 









198 

Europe above mentioned, and of the whole foreign population 
of the United States, less than 7 per cent, were in the Southern 
States — that is to say, over 93 per cent, were in the Northern 
States — and including the foreign population of Canada, over 
96 per cent, of the whole European emigration to North Ame- 
rica have sought homes between the parallels of 38 and 46 
degrees. It is evident then that the sources and general flow of 
emigration is within this northern belt of climate, having a breadth 
of about 10 degrees in Europe and of about 8 degrees in America. 
This isothermal belt which we have arbitrarily defined by lines of 
latitude, is nearly conterminous in Western Europe and Eastern 
America with Maury's upper thermal band between the lines of 
mean annual temperature of 32 and 52 degrees. In Western Ame- 
rica the belt rises northward to enclose the valley of the Saskatche- 
wan and British Columbia. In Eastern Europe it sinks southward 
to Southern Russia and the Caspian basin, enclosing in Western 
Asia the primitive seats of the Caucasian race, and all the ancient 
pathways of its victorious career. An interior and fundamental 
operation of the same law which concentrates within this belt the 
cities, the commerce, the railways, the prosperous and liberal 
civilization of the world, also collocates within it the governing, 
civilizing, organizing and progressive races of the world. 

INDUCEMENTS TO SETTLE IN AMERICA. 

To a young farmer just starting in life, and with a capital of 
1000 dollars, there is no better field for him to enter upon. At 
home he has to encounter active competition, and work for unre- 
munerative wages. If he cultivate the paternal acres, after years of 
toil, and after having reared and educated a family of children, he 
finds himself, at the close of life, about where he started. Very 
many of the farms in New England do not yield 5 per cent, on the 
capital invested. They are s'o small as to make it undesirable to 
sub-divide them among the children of the owner ; and hence the 
farmer, in his declining years, so apportions his estate that one 
retains the homestead, while the others go out into the world to 
seek their fortunes. Let such an one, with his good common- 
school education and his habits of thrift, go to the broad prairies 
and select a quarter-section, or 160 acres, at say 10 dollars per acre, 
on the terms of seven years' payment. For four years he pays inte- 
rest in advance, the first instalment being 96 dollars. He buys a 
yoke of oxen and a plough, which shall cost him 100 dollars. He 
erects a house to shelter him from the storm for 350 dollars, and 
encloses 40 acres with a two-board fence, to turn cattle, which shall 
cost him 150 dollars. If he join with a neighbour, he pays one- 
half. In May he turns over the sod of one-half of the tract 
enclosed, and puts in a crop of corn which shall yield him 15 
bushels to the acre ; but if he can rent some old land from a neigh- 



199 

bour, it is better. In June, he breaks the other half, and early in 
September he harrows in his wheat. With his remaining means, 
let him buy a few pigs and calves, or yearlings. The former he 
should pen up, but the latter may roam over the prairie. A few 
tons of hay mown from some neighbouring meadow, together with 
his sod-corn, will carry his stock through the winter. 

The second year, his 20 acres of corn land will be mellow and 
ready to be re-planted. He encloses another 40 acres, at a cost of 
112 dollars 50 cents, or if he remove the division fence, his expenses 
for additional materials will be 75 dollars. He breaks an additional 
40, going through the same routine. In July his wheat is har- 
vested, which will yield him 400 bushels, worth from 300 dollars 
to 400 dollars, and in October he finds himself in possession of 
800 or 1000 bushels of corn, half a dozen fatted hogs, and others 
coming on to supply their places ; his calves will have increased 
50 per cent, in value, his steers will be ready to break, and one- 
half of his farm, or 80 acres, will be in a high state of cultivation, 
and his first broken land in a condition to put out in orchards, 
and everything will have assumed an air of comfort. The worst is 
now over. One-half of his farm is subdued, and will from hence- 
forth prove remunerative. The third year he fences the whole 160 
acres, by purchasing 75 dollars' worth of new materials, and re- 
moving the divisional fences. If he wishes to make a fence to turn 
hogs, he must add about 33 per cent, to the first cost. Again he 
breaks, and again goes through the same processes before described. 
He reaps his wheat, and gathers his corn. His calves have grown 
to cattle, his trees have taken root, his farm is now subdued and 
fenced, and he looks over his broad acres with a feeling of satisfac- 
tion, " I have made myself a home." The fourth year he com- 
mences his payment of principal, and in the soil he finds himself 
possessed of ample resources to meet it. 

Such is an outline of what a man of energy and a little capital 
can accomplish on these lands. The proprietor in his own right of 
a farm of 160 acres, properly fenced and cultivated, with a neat 
house, surrounded with gardens and orchards, and flocks and herds, 
he need not repine at his lot. 

STOCK-BREEDING AND RAISING IN ILLINOIS. 

The prairies are well fitted for stock-raising in two essential par- 
ticulars — the cheapness with which Indian corn can be grown, and 
the almost unlimited amount of natural pasturage. Jacob Strahn, 
who came to this country 25 years ago a poor man, when in the full 
tide of enterprise has been known to turn off" 10,000 head of cattle 
a year. There are other graziers who range from 1000 up to 5000. 
One individual sends cattle to the eastern market to the value of 
500,000 dollars per annum. Many of the Kentucky and Ohio 
farmers are securing stock-farms on the lands. One gentleman from 



200 

the latter State has a tract of 22,000 acres, which he is rapidly con- 
verting into a stock-farm, and another still larger, which he proposes 
to treat in the same way. 

In the vicinity of Bloomington there are two stock-growers, 
brothers, who came to this State more than 30 years ago. They 
had nothing to rely upon but their strong hands and their far- 
seeing sagacity. One of them now owns 7000 acres of land, 2700 
of which is in a high state of cultivation ; and the yearly products 
of his farm, in cattle and hogs, often reached 50,000 dollars. 

The other brother has 27,000 acres of land, 4000 of which are in 
cultivation; and his annual sales of pork and beef reach 65,000 
dollars. 

These are examples of what industry and sagacity can accom- 
plish upon these lands. 

Referring again to the State of Minnesota, where will centre all 
the lines of railway, and from whence they will converge to the 
various sections now so rapidly developing, and also the importance 
of a wise and liberal legislation on the part of the British Home 
Government, we append certain letters and papers : — 

Letter from the Governor of Minnesota to Thomas Rawlings, 
Esq., Gresham House, Old Broad Street, London. 

"State of Minnesota, Executive Department, 
" St. Paul, Nov. 28, 1862. 
u* * * i regard the road in question as a central outlet to 
these extensive and fertile districts of Northern Minnesota, and the lands 
in its vicinity must materially appreciate as its construction extends. I 
enclose you documents indicating my estimation of the future progress of 
the region with which the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad is closely connected. 
I also forward a memorial of the last Minnesota Legislature bearing on the 
same subject, of which I have recorded my official approval." 

Extract of a Memorial presented to the Congress of the 
United States. 

" It is now well known that north of latitude forty-nine degrees (49°), 
and west of longitude ninety-four degrees (94°), there extends to the 
Rocky Mountains a district which may be properly styled Central British 
America. 

" This region, at least to latitude fifty-four (54°) — five degrees of 
latitude in width and eleven degrees of longitude in length — is connected 
with Minnesota by internal river and lake navigation, and is capable of 
sustaining as dense a population as the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, and 
Minnesota. 

" The climate and soil invite a similar agriculture. Selkirk Settlement, 
with a population of ten thousand souls, immediately joins Minnesota, and 
is a key to the future occupation and development of the fertile valleys 
and navigable rivers which converge to Lake Winnipeg. One of these 
streams, the Red River of the North, is navigable for four hundred miles 



201 

by its course within the United States, forming the north-west boundary 
of Minnesota. 

" It was a favourite policy of the Derby Ministry, and especially of Sir 
Edward Bulwer Lytton, Colonial Secretary, to organize a Crown Colony 
of Central British America, with the seat of Government at Selkirk. 

" A draft of a bill for that purpose has not been pressed during the 
Palmerston Administration, greatly to the dissatisfaction of the people 
most interested. 

" Meanwhile the revenue and postal system of the United States has 
been extended to Pembina, and beyond ; and, with the aid of steamboat 
navigation (transferred to the Red River from the adjacent sources of the 
Mississippi, by the enterprise of the citizens of Minnesota), has rapidly 
removed former prejudices to commercial, and even political association 
with the United States. It is not too much to say, that if England 
shall not immediately take measures in behalf of the Red River and 
Saskatchewan districts, by a political organization, and effective measures 
of colonization, that the Americanization of a grain region as large as six 
States of the size of Ohio cannot long be postponed. Hitherto the people 
of Minnesota have desired no other relations with their northern neigh- 
bours than the concord of international treaties ; they still seek no other, 
satisfied with the political frontier entrusted to their keeping, although 
claiming to be central to a vast division of physical geography." 

From Hon. Henry M. Rice, U. S. Senator, to E. B. Litchfield 

Esq., New York. 

"Senate Chamber, Washington, D.C., 
" Dear Sir, " Nov. 27, 1862. 

" The lands belonging to the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, 
on the main line from Stillwater to Breckinridge, are among the most 
valuable in the State ; and, since the grant was made by Congress, and 
the route surveyed and selected, the country through which the line passes 
has been densely settled by industrious farmers. Many communities, vil- 
lages, and towns have sprung up. * * * * The railroad lands will 
average (so soon as the road is built) at public sale 20 dollars, equal to 
£4 sterling, per acre. * * * * It is seldom that a line of only ten 
miles in length pays, but such is the case with the road between St. Paul 
and St. Anthony; the business upon it will astonish all who are not per- 
sonally acquainted with the resources of the valleys of the Upper Missis- 
sippi, Lank, and Red Rivers. 

" Owing to the troubles in the Border States, North and South, thou- 
sands will leave in the spring for Minnesota. I am just in receipt of a 
letter from the Hon. B. B. Meeker, then in Kentucky, saying that a large 
number of his acquaintances in that State, among the wealthiest inhabi- 
tants, would do so. M Very truly yours, 

" Henry M. Rice." 

From J. W. Taylor, Esq., to Thomas Rawlings, Esq. 

"St. Paul, Nov. 21, 1862. 
«*##*! consider that railroad enterprise as having the 
same prospects before it which the first railroad north-west of Chicago had 

in 1852. 






" What ten years have accomplished for the Chicago and Galena Rail- 
road, both in business and the value of lands near the road, I anticipate 
for the railroad north-west of St. Paul in 1872. * * * * The north- 
west, beyond St. Paul, and extending through British America to the 
Rocky Mountains, is destined to a development, which is my warrant for 
the foregoing opinion. * * * * 

" Lord Dunmore, who spent the summer of 1862 in British territory, 
north-west of Minnesota, lately passed through St. Paul on his way to 
London. Here he fully confirmed the intelligence of gold discoveries on 
the Saskatchewan River, east of the Rocky Mountains. In his own 
language, ' A rush may be expected from England and Canada next 
summer (1863).' 

" An overland emigration in that direction has already commenced, 
and will pass from St. Paul to Red River, over the route of the St. Paul 
and Pacific Railroad." 

From the Commissioner of the State of Minnesota Land 
Office to Edmund Rice, Esq., President of the St. Paul and 
Pacific Railroad Office. 

" St. Paul, Jan. 24, 1863. 
" I have the honour to inform you, under the Act of the 
Legislature of March 10, 1862, that not less than 100,000 acres of school 
lands shall be appraised and offered for sale at public auction, on or before 
the 1st day of November, 1862; eighty-seven thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-two and 93/100 (87 ,8S'2-^^) acres were offered for sale, of which 
thirty-eight thousand one hundred and forty-seven and 13/100 (38,147 t 1 q 3 o) 
acres sold for two hundred and forty-two thousand five hundred and thirty- 
one and 60/100 dollars (242,53 ly^ dollars); the average price per acre 
being over six and 35/100 dollars (6 T \ 5 -o dollars). The average distance 
of the lands from any public conveyance to market is not less than twenty- 
five miles. 

" I would also state that the demand for these lands is such that the 
State will have another general sale as early as May in the present year." 

From the Hon. Edmund Rice, President of the St. Paul and 
Pacific Railroad, to Thomas Rawlings, Esq., of London. 

" St. Paul, Jan. 30, 1863. 
" I have the honour to send you herewith a map of the State ol 
Minnesota, with the lands certified to this Company indicated thereon. 
These are the 307,200 acres mortgaged to trustees to secure the payment 
of 1,200,000 dollars, of 7 per cent bonds, dated June 2, 1862. 

" You will observe their proximity to the railroad and to the Missis- 
sippi River, none of them being more than fifteen miles therefrom. 

" Their identity is certified under the seal of the Department of the 
Interior. 

" I enclose also an official description of the lands embraced in each 
township, as returned by the Surveyor-General's Office by the Govern- 
ment Surveyors, who are sworn officers. I also enclose an official state- 
ment of the Commissioner of the State Land Office, showing the amount 
realized for school lands sold by him at public auction in October last. 

" These lands were granted by the United States for the purpose of 



203 

maintaining schools, and consist of the 16th and 36th sections in each 
township. 

" Of course, they can be no better than the railroad lands, and in one 
respect they are not so valuable, because they extend to all parts of the 
State, whereas the railroad lands are all within fifteen miles of the 
line. * * * * 

" You must be aware that there is a thriving population all along the 
valley of the Mississippi, from St. Paul's to Crow Wing, and that thereby 
the Company's lands are rendered altogether more valuable and more 
desirable to emigrants and others than they otherwise would be." 

In confirmation of the value of the lands as in comparison with 
the school lands, we have received the following from the Senators 
of Minnesota : — 

" Senate Chamber, Washington, D.C., 
"Feb. 19, 1863. 
" From personal knowledge, we are satisfied that the lands 
belonging to the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad are as valuable and as well 
located as the school lands, and some of them more valuable, in conse- 
quence of their proximity to the road and the numerous depots or 
stations upon the line. " M. S. Wilkinson, U.S. Senator. 

" Henry M. Rice, U.S. Senator." 

Thus, in conclusion, quoting the words of an eminent writer, 
from whose volume on Minnesota we have gathered much useful 
information — " Through Minnesota, the sole pathway of westward 
emigration, must flow the great exodus now dashing itself in vain 
against the shores of Europe through the passes of the Caucasus. 
Every advancing wave of population lifts higher and higher this 
gathering flood of American life, which, the moment that it begins 
to press upon the means of subsistence, must pour all its vast tide 
through this narrow channel into the inland basins of the north- 
west — till the Atlantic and Pacific are united in a living chain of 
populous States. Behold, then, the geographical circle of American 
development completed ! Henceforth, the energies thinly dispersed 
in the vast movement of territorial expansion are concentrated in 
the upward career of civilization and social growth. This is but 
the outline, faintly limned upon the canvas, of the empire into 
which is to be wrought the glory and the grace of all historic civi- 
lizations. Progress is no longer a superficial diffusion, but an 
inward growth, of which not width but depth is the measure. The 
movement of life is turned from the circumference to the centre. 
The reciprocal dualism of the east and west* of the north and south 
— their action and re-action — becomes a continental economy. The 
social life of the New World ceases to be a fragment — a broken echo 
of Old-World traditions — and becomes a complete and rounded 
continental organism, at once independent and supreme, of which 
Minnesota is the vital centre — the heart from which all its arteries 
pulsate to the majestic systole and diastole of the commerce of 
the world." 



205 



APPENDIX "A." 



THE BRITISH AMERICAN FEDERATION. 

The following Resolutions were adopted at a Conference of Delegates 
from the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and 
the Colonies of Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, held in the City 
of Quebec on the 10th of October, 1864, as the basis of a proposed Con- 
federation of those Provinces and Colonies : — 

u That the best interests and present and future prosperity of British North 
America will be promoted by a Federal Union under the Crown of Great 
Britain, provided such Union be effected on principles just to the several 
provinces. 

" That in the Federation of the British North American provinces the 
system of government best adapted under existing circumstances to protect the 
diversified interests of the several provinces, and secure efficiency, harmony, 
and permanency in the working of the Union, would be a general government 
charged with matters of common interest to the whole country, and local 
governments for each of the Canadas and for the provinces of Nova Scotia, New 
Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, charged with the control of local 
matters in their respective sections — provision being made for the admission 
into the Union, on equitable terms, of Newfoundland, the North- West Terri- 
tory, British Columbia, and Vancouver. 

"That in framing a constitution for the general government, the Con- 
ference, with a view to the perpetuation of our connexion with the mother 
country, and to the promotion of the best interests of the people of these pro- 
vinces, desire to follow the model of the British constitution so far as our cir- 
cumstances will permit. 

" That the executive authority or government shall be vested in the 
Sovereign of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and be administered 
according to the well-understood principles of the British constitution by the 
Sovereign personally or by representative duly authorized. 

" That the Sovereign or representative of the Sovereign shall be Com- 
mander-in-chief of the land and naval militia forces. 

" That there shall be a General Legislature for the Federated Provinces, 
composed of a Legislative Council and House of Commons. 

" That for the purpose of forming the Legislative Council the Federated 
Provinces shall be considered as consisting of three divisions — 1st, Upper 
Canada ; 2d, Lower Canada ; 3d, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince 
Edward Island, with equal representation in the Legislative Council. 

" That Upper Canada be represented in the Legislative Council by 24 
members, Lower Canada by 24 members, and the three Maritime Provinces by 
24 members, of which Nova Scotia shall have 10, New Brunswick 10, and 
Prince Edward Island 4 members. 

" That the colony of Newfoundland shall be entitled to enter the proposed 
Union, with a representation in the Legislative Council of four members. 

" The North- West Territory, British Columbia, and Vancouver shall be 
admitted into the Union on such terms and conditions as Parliament shall deem 
equitable, and as shall receive the assent of Her Majesty ; and in the case of 



206 

the province of British Columbia or Vancouver, as shall be agreed to by the 
Legislature of such province. 

" That the members of the Legislative Council shall be appointed by the 
Crown under the Great Seal of the General Government, and shall hold office 
during life ; provided that absence from the Legislature for two consecutive 
Sessions shall render such seat absolutely vacant. 

" That the members of the Legislative Council shall be British subjects by 
birth or naturalization, of the full age of 30 years, shall possess a continuous 
real property qualification of 4000 dollars over and above all incumbrances, 
and shall be and continue worth that sum over and above their debts and 
liabilities, except in the case of Newfoundland, where the property may be 
either real or personal. 

" That if any question shall arise as to the qualification of a Legislative 
Councillor, the same shall be determined by the Council. 

" That the first selection of the members of the Legislative Council shall be 
made from the Legislative Councils of the various provinces, with the exception 
of Prince Edward Island, so far as a sufficient number be found qualified and 
willing to serve; such members shall be appointed by the Crown at the recom- 
mendation of the General Executive Government, upon the nomination of the 
respective local Governments, and that in such nomination due regard be had 
to the claims of the members of the Legislative Council of the Opposition in 
each province, so that all political parties may as nearly as possible be fairly 
represented. 

" That the Speaker of the Legislative Council (until it is otherwise provided 
by the Legislature) shall be appointed by the Crown from among the members 
of the Legislative Council, and hold office during pleasure, and he shall only 
be entitled to a casting vote on an equality of votes. 

11 The 24 Legislative Councillors representing Lower Canada in the Legis- 
lative Council of the Federal Legislature shall be appointed to represent each 
one of [the 24 electoral divisions mentioned in Schedule A of Chap. I. of the 
Consolidated Statutes of Canada, and such councillor shall reside or possess his 
qualification therein. 

" That the basis of representation in the House of Commons shall be popu- 
lation, as determined by the official census every ten years ; and that the 
number of members at first shall be 194, distributed as follows: — 



Upper Canada 


82 


New Brunswick 


15 


Lower Canada 


65 


Newfoundland 


8 


Nova Scotia 


19 


Prince Edward Island 


5 



" That each section shall distribute its representatives in such electoral 
divisions as it deems best. 

" That until the official census of 1871 has been made up there shall be no 
change in the number of representatives from the several sections. 

" That immediately after the completion of the census of 1871, and imme- 
diately after every decennial census thereafter, the representation from each 
section shall be readjusted on the basis of population. 

" That for the purpose of such readjustments Lower Canada shall always be 
assigned 65 members, and each of the other sections shall, at each such read- 
justment, receive for the ten years then next succeeding the number of members 
to which it will be entitled on the same ratio of representation to population 
as Lower Canada will enjoy according t© the census then just taken by having 
65 members. 

" That no reduction shall be made in the number of members returned by 
any section unless its population shall have decreased relatively to the whole 
population of the whole Union to the extent of 5 per centum, or over. 

" That in computing at each decennial period the number of members to 
which each section is entitled, no fractional parts shall be considered, unless 
when exceeding one-half the number entitling to a member, in which case a 
member shall be given for each such fractional part. 



207 

" That the number of members may at anytime be increased by the Federal 
Parliament, regard being had to the proportionate rights then existing. 

" That the Legislature of each province, in the Act consenting to the Union, 
shall divide such province into the proper number of constituencies, and define 
the boundaries of each of them. 

11 The local Legislature of each province may afterwards, from time to time, 
alter the electoral districts of the province for the purposes of representation 
in the House of Commons, and distribute the number of representatives to 
which the province is entitled in any manner such Legislature mav think fit. 

" That until provisions shall otherwise be made by the Federal Parlia- 
ment, all the laws which at the date of the proclamation constituting the 
Union may be in force in the provinces respectively relating to the qualifica- 
tion and disqualification of any person to be elected, or to sit or vote as a mem- 
ber of the Assembly in the said provinces respectively, and relating to the 
qualification or disqualification of voters, and to the oaths to be taken by 
voters, and to returning officers and their powers and duties, and relating to 
the proceedings at elections, and to the period during which such elections 
may be continued, and relating to the trial of controverted elections, and the 
proceedings incident thereto, and to the vacating of seats of members, and to 
the issuing and execution of new writs in case of any seat being vacated other- 
wise than by a dissolution, — shall respectively apply to elections of members 
to serve in the House of Commons for places situate in those provinces 
respectively. 

" Every House of Commons shall continue for five years from the day of 
the return of the writs choosing the same, and no longer, subject, nevertheless, 
to be sooner prorogued or dissolved by the Governor. 

" There shall.be a Session of the Federal Parliament once at least in every 
year, so that a period of 1 2 calendar months shall not intervene between the 
last sitting of the Federal Parliament in one Session and the first sitting of 
the Federal Parliament in the next Session. 

" The Federal Government shall have power to make laws for the peace, 
welfare, and good government of the Federated Provinces (saving the sove- 
reignty of England), and especially laws respecting the following subjects : — 

"1. The public debt and property. 

" 2. The regulation of trade and commerce. 

"3. The imposition or regulation of duties of Customs on imports and ex- 
ports, except on exports of timber, logs, masts, spars, deals, and sawn lumber, 
and of coal and other minerals. 

" 4. The imposition, or regulation of Excise duties. 

"5. The raising of money by all or any other modes or systems of taxa- 
tion. 

"6. The borrowing of money on the public credit. 

" 7. Postal service. 

" 8. Lines of steam or other ships, railways, canals, and other works, con- 
necting any two or more of the provinces together, or extending beyond the 
limits of any province. 

"9. Lines of steamships between the Federated Provinces and other 
countries. 

" 10. Telegraphic communication and the incorporation of telegraph com- 
panies. 

"11, All such works as shall, although lying wholly within any pro- 
vince, be specially declared by the Acts authorizing them to be for the general 
advantage. 

" 12. The Census. 

"13. Militia, military and naval service, and defence. 

" 14. Beacons, buoys, and lighthouses. 

" 15. Navigation and shipping. 

" 16. Quarantine. 

" 17. Sea fisheries. 






208 

u 18. Ferries between any province and a foreign country, or between 
any two provinces. 

" 19. Currency and coinage. 

" 20. Banking and the issue of paper money. 

"21. Savings-banks. 

" 22. Weights and measures. 

" 23. Bills of exchange and promissory notes. 

"24. Interest. 

"25. Legal tender. 

" 26. Bankruptcy and insolvency. 

" 27. Patents of invention and discovery. 

"28. Copyrights. 

"29. Indians and lands reserved for the Indians. 

" 30. Naturalization and aliens. 

" 31. Marriage and divorce. 

" 32. The criminal law (except the constitution of courts of criminal 
jurisdiction), but including the procedure on criminal matters. 

" 33. For rendering uniform all or any of the laws relative to property 
and civil rights in Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince 
Edward Island, and Newfoundfand, and for rendering uniform the procedure 
of all or any of the courts in these provinces ; but any statute for this purpose 
shall have no force or authority in any province until sanctioned by the Legis- 
lature thereof. 

" 34. The establishment of a general Court of Appeal for the Federated 
Provinces. 

"35. Immigration. 

" 36. Agriculture. 

" 37. And generally respecting all matters of a general character not 
specially and exclusively reserved for the local Governments and Legislatures. 

" The General Government and Legislature shall have all powers neces- 
sary or proper for performing the obligations of the province as part of the 
British empire to foreign countries, arising under treaties between Great 
Britain and such countries. 

"All courts, judges, and officers of the several provinces shall aid, assist, 
and obey the General Government in the exercise of its rights and powers, 
and for such purposes shall be held to be courts, judges, and officers of the 
General Government. 

" The Federal Parliament may also from time to time establish additional 
courts, and the Government may thereupon appoint other judges and officers, 
when the same shall appear necessary or for the public advantage, in order to 
the due execution of the laws of Parliament. 

" The General Government shall appoint and pay the Judges of the Supe- 
rior Courts in each province, and of the County Courts of Upper Canada, and 
Parliament shall fix their salaries. 

" Until the consolidation of the laws of Upper Canada, New Brunswick, 
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island, the Judges of these 
provinces appointed by the General Government shall be selected from their 
respective Bars. 

" That the Judges of the Court of Admiralty now receiving salaries shall 
be paid by the General Government. 

" That the Judges of the Superior Courts shall hold their offices during 
good behaviour, and shall be removable only on the address of both Houses of 
Parliament. 

" That for each of the provinces there shall be an executive officer, styled 
the Lieutenant-Governor, who shall be appointed by the Governor-General in 
council, under the Great Seal of the Federated Provinces, during pleasure, such 
pleasure not to be exercised before the expiration of the first five years, except 
for cause ; such cause to be communicated in writing to the Lieutenant- 
Governor immediately after the exercise of the pleasure as aforesaid, and also 



209 

by message to both Houses of Parliament within the first week of the first 
Session afterwards. 

" That the Lieutenant-Governor of each province shall be paid by the 
General Legislature. 

" That in undertaking to pay the salaries of the Lieutenant-Governors, the 
Conference does not desire to prejudice the claim of Prince Edward Island 
upon the Imperial Government for the amount now paid for the salary of the 
Lieutenant-Governor thereof. 

" The local Government and Legislature of each province shall be con- 
structed in such manner as the existing Legislature of such province shall 
provide in the Act consenting to the Union. 

11 After the Union the local Legislatures shall have power to alter or 
amend their constitution from time to time. 

" The local Legislatures shall have power to make laws respecting the 
following subjects : — 

" Direct taxation and the imposition of duties on the export of timber, 
logs, masts, spars, deals, and sawn lumber, and of coals and other minerals. 

M Borrowing money on the credit of the province. 

" The establishment and tenure of local offices, and the appointment and 
payment of local officers. 

" Agriculture. 

" Immigration. 

" Education ; saving the rights and privileges which the Protestant or 
Catholic minority in both Canadas may possess as to their denominational 
schools at the time when the Union goes into operation. 

" The sale and management of public lands, excepting lands belonging to 
the General Government. 

" Sea-coast and inland fisheries. 

" The establishment, maintenance, and management of penitentiaries, and 
of public and reformatory prisons. 

" The establishment, maintenance, and management of hospitals, asylums, 
charities, and eleemosynary institutions. 

u Municipal institutions. 

11 Shop, saloon, tavern, auctioneer, and other licences. 

" Local works. 

" The incorporation of private or local companies, except such as relate to 
matters assigned to the Federal Legislature. 

" Property and civil rights, excepting those portions thereof assigned to 
the General Legislature. 

" Inflicting punishment by fine, penalties, imprisonment, or otherwise for 
the breach of laws passed in relation to any subject within their jurisdiction. 

" The administration of justice, including the constitution, maintenance, 
and organization of the courts, both of civil and criminal jurisdiction, and in- 
cluding also the procedure in civil matters. 

"And generally all matters of a private or local nature. 

" The power, of respiting, reprieving, commuting, and pardoning prisoners 
convicted of crimes, and of remitting of sentences in whole or in part, which 
belongs of right to the Crown, shall be administered by the Lieutenant- 
Governor of each province in Council, subject to any instructions he may from 
time to time receive from the General Government, and subject to any provi- 
sions that may be made in this behalf by Parliament. 

11 That in regard to all subjects over which jurisdiction belongs to both 
the General and local Governments, the laws of the Federal Parliament shall 
control and supersede those made by the local Legislature, and the latter shall 
be void so far as they are repugnant to or inconsistent with the former. 

" That both the English and French languages may be employed in the 
General Legislature and in its proceedings, and also in the local Legislature of 
Lower Canada, and in the Federal and local courts of Jjower Canada. 

P 






210 



" That no lands or property belonging to the General or local Government 
shall be liable to taxation. 

" All bills for appropriating any part of the public revenue, or for imposing 
any new tax or impost, shall originate in the House of Commons or the local 
Assembly, as the case may be. 

" The House of Commons or Legislative Assembly shall not originate or 
pass any vote, resolution, address, or bill for the appropriation of any part of 
the public revenue, or of any tax or impost to any purpose, not first recom- 
mended to the House or Assembly by message of the Governor- General or the 
Lieutenant-Governor, as the case may be, during the session in which such 
vote, resolution, address, or bill is passed. 

"Any bill of the General Legislature may be reserved in the usual 
manner for Her Majesty's assent, and any bill of the local Legislatures may, 
in like manner, be reserved for the consideration of the Governor- General. 

"Any bill passed by the General Legislature shall be subject to dis- 
allowance by Her Majesty within two years, as in the case of bills passed by 
the said provinces hitherto, and in like manner any bill passed by a local 
Legislature shall be subject to disallowance by the Governor-General within 
one year after the passing thereof. 

" That, subject to any future action of the respective local Governments 
in respect thereof, the seat of the local Government in Upper Canada shall be 
Toronto ; of Lower Canada, Quebec ; and the seats of the local Governments 
in the other provinces shall be as at present. 

M That the seat of Government of the Federated Provinces shall be Ottawa, 
subject to the Royal Prerogative. 

" That the Confederation shall be vested at the time of the union with all 
cash, bankers' balances, and other cash securities of each province. 

" That the Confederation shall be vested with the public works and pro- 
perty of each province — to wit : — Canals ; public harbours ; lighthouses and 
piers ; steamboats, dredges, and public vessels ; river and lake improvements ; 
railroads, mortgages, and other debts due by railroad companies ; military 
roads ; pmblic buildings, custom-houses, and post-offices, except such as may be 
set aside by the General Government for the use of the local Legislatures and 
Governments ; property transferred by the Imperial Government and known 
as ordnance property ; armories, drill-sheds, military clothing, and munitions 
of war ; lands set apart for public purposes. 

" All lands, mines, minerals, and Royalties vested in Her Majesty in the 
provinces of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and 
Prince Edward Island, for the use of such provinces, shall belong to the local 
Government of the territory in which the same are so situate, subject to any 
trusts that may exist in respect to any of such lands or to any interest of other 
persons in respect of the same. 

" All sums due from purchasers or lessees of such lands, mines, or minerals 
at the time of the Union shall also belong to the local Governments. 

" The several provinces shall remain in each vested with all other public 
property therein, except such as hereinbefore vested in the Confederation, 
subject to the right of the Confederation to assume any lands or public pro- 
perty required for fortifications or the defence of the country. 

" The Confederation shall assume all the debts and liabilities of each 
province. 

M The debt of Canada not specially assumed by Upper and Lower Canada 
respectively shall not exceed at the time of the Union 62,500,000 dollars ; Nova 
Scotia shall enter into the Confederation with a debt not exceeding 8,000,000 
dollars ; and New Brunswick 7,000,000 dollars. 

" But it is expressly provided that in case Nova Scotia or New Brunswick 
do not incur liabilities beyond those for which their Governments are now 
bound, and which shall make their respective debts at the date of Union less 
than 8,000,000 dollars and 7,000,000 dollars respectively, they shall then be 



211 

entitled to benefit by the interest at 5 per cent, on the amount not so incurred, 
in like manner as is hereinafter provided for Newfoundland and Prince Edward 
Island. The foregoing resolution being in no respect intended to limit the 
powers now given to the respective Governments of those provinces by Legis- 
lative authority, but to limit the extreme amount of charge to be brought by 
them against the Confederation. Provided always that the powers so con- 
ferred by the respective Legislatures must be exercised within five years from 
this date, or will then lapse. 

" Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, not having incurred debts 
equal to those of the other provinces, shall be entitled to receive by half-yearly 
payments, in advance from the Confederation, the interest at 5 per cent, on 
the difference between the actual amount of their respective debts at the time 
of the Union, and the average amount of indebtedness per head of the popula- 
tion of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. 

" In consideration of the transfer to the General Legislature of the powers 
of taxation, a grant in aid of each province shall be made, equal to an amount 
of 80c. per head of the population as established by the census of 1861 ; New- 
foundland being estimated at 130,000 inhabitants. Such aid to be in full 
settlement of all future demands upon the General Legislature for local pur- 
poses, and to be payable half-yearly in advance to each province. 

" The position of New Brunswick being such as to entail large immediate 
charges upon her local revenues, it is agreed that for the period of ten years 
from the time when the union takes effect, an additional allowance of 63,000 
dollars per annum shall be made to that province. Provided that so long as 
the liability of that province remains under 7,000,000 dollars, a deduction, 
equal to the interest on such deficiency shall be made from the 63,000 dollars. 

" In consideration of the surrender to the Confederation hy Newfoundland 
of all its rights in mines and minerals, and of all the ungranted and unoccupied 
lands of the Crown, it is agreed that the sum of 1 50,000 dollars shall each year 
be paid to that province by semi-annual payments ; provided that the colony 
shall retain the right of opening, constructing, and controlling roads and 
bridges through any of the said lands, subject to any laws which the General 
Legislature may pass in respect of the same. 

" All engagements that may be entered into with the Imperial Govern- 
ment for the defence of the country shall be assumed by the Confederation. 

" That the Federal Government will secure without delay the completion 
of the Intercolonial Railway from the Riviere-du-Loup through New Bruns- 
wick to Truro, in Nova Scotia. 

" The communications with the North- Western Territory, and the im- 
provements required for the development of the trade of the great west with 
the seaboard, are regarded by this Conference as subjects of the highest im- 
portance to the Confederation, and should be prosecuted at the earliest possible 
period when the state of the Federal finances will permit the Legislature to 
do so. 

" The sanction of the Imperial and local Parliaments shall be sought for 
the union of the provinces on the principles adopted by the Conference. 

" The proceedings of the Conference, when finally revised, shall be signed 
by the delegates, and submitted by each deputation to its own Government, 
and the chairman is authorized to submit a copy to the Governor-General for 
transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies." 



p 2 






I 



212 



APPENDIX "B." 



INCREASED PRODUCTION OF CULTIVATED PLANTS NEAR 
THE NORTHERNMOST LIMIT OF THEIR GROWTH. 

Extracts from an Article upon the "Acclimating Principle of Plants" in the 
American Journal of Geology, by Dr. Forry. 

The cultivated plants yield the greatest products near the northernmost 
limit in which they will grow. 

I have been forcibly impressed with this fact, from observing the pro- 
ductions of the various plants which are cultivated for food or clothing in 
the United States. The following instances will go far to establish the 
principle — viz. : — 

The cotton, which is a tropical plant, yields the best staple and surest 
product in the temperate latitudes. The southern parts of the United 
States have taken the cotton-market from the East and West Indies, both 
as regards quantity and quality. This is partly owing to the prevalence ot 
insects within the tropics, but principally to the forcing nature of a 
vertical sun. Such a degree of heat develops the plant too rapidly — runs 
it into wood and foliage, which become injuriously luxuriant; the conse- 
quence is, there are but few seed-pods, and these covered with a thin 
harsh coat of wool. The cotton wool, like the fur of animals, is, perhaps, 
designed for protection ; and will be thick and fine in proportion as the 
climate is warm or cool. Another reason is to be found in the providence 
of the Deity, who aims to preserve races rather than individuals, and 
multiplies the seeds and eyes of plants, exactly as there is danger of their 
being destroyed by the severity of the climate, or other cause*. When, 
therefore, the cares and labours of man counteract the destructive tendency 
of the climate and guarantee their preservation, they are, of course, more 
available and abundant. 

The lint plants, flax, hemp, &c, are cultivated through a great extent 
of latitude, but their bark, in the southern climates, is harsh and brittle. 
A warm climate forces these plants so rapidly into maturity, that the lint 
does not acquire either consistency or tenacity. We must go far north in 
Europe, even to the Baltic, to find these plants in perfection, and their 
products very merchantable. Ireland is rather an exception as to lati- 
tude ; but the influence of the sun is so effectually counteracted there by 
moisture and exposure to the sea air, that it is always cool ; hence the flax 
and potatoe arrive at such perfection in that region. 

It holds equally true in the farinaceous plants. Rice is a tropical 
plant; yet Carolina and Georgia grow the finest in the world — heavier 
grained, better filled, and more merchantable, than any imported into Europe 
from the Indies. The inhabitants of the East Indies derive their sub- 
sistence almost exclusively from rice ; they must be supposed, therefore, 
to cultivate it with all skill and care, and the best contrivances for irri- 



213 

gation. Such is, however, the forcing nature of their climate, that the plant 
grows too rapidly, and dries away before the grain be properly filled. 
Indian corn, or maize, if not a tropical plant, was originally found near 
the tropics; and, although it now occupies a wide range, it produces the 
heaviest crops near the northern limit of its range. In the West 
Indies it rises thirty feet in height; but, with all that gigantic size, 
it produces only a few grains on the bottom of a spongy cob, and is 
counted on only as rough provender. In the southern part of the United 
States it reaches a height of fifteen feet, and will produce thirty bushels to 
the acre ; in the rich lands of Kentucky and the Middle States it produces 
fifty or sixty bushels to the acre; but in New York and New England 
agricultural societies have actually awarded premiums for one hundred and 
fifty bushels to the acre, collected from stalks only seven feet high. The 
heats of a southern sun develop the juices of this plant too quickly. They 
run into culm and blade, to the neglect of the seed, and dry away before 
fructification becomes complete. 

Wheat is a more certain crop in New York, the northern part of 
Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and in the Baltic regions of Europe, than in the 
south either of Europe or America. In the north snows accumulate, and 
not only protect it from the winter colds, but from the weevil, Hessian 
fly, and other insects that invade it; and in the spring it is not forced too 
rapidly into head, without time to mature fully, and concoct its farina. 

A cold climate also aids the manufacturing of flour, preserving it from 
acidity, and enables us to keep it long, either for a good market, or to 
meet scarcities and emergencies. Oats grow in almost every country ; 
but it is northern regions only, or very moist or elevated tracts, that they 
fill with farina suitable for human sustenance. Eye, barley, buckwheat, 
millet, and other culmiferous plants, might be adduced to illustrate the 
above principle ; for all their habits require a more northern latitude than 
is necessary to their mere growth. 

The grasses are proverbially in perfection only in northern and cool 
regions, although they will grow everywhere. It is in the north alone 
that we raise animals from meadows, and are enabled to keep them fat, 
and in good condition, from hay and grass alone, without grain. It is 
there the grasses acquire a succulence and consistency enough not only to 
mature animals, but to make the richest butter and cheese, that contribute 
so much to the tables of the luxurious. The grasses, which often in the 
south grow large enough, are without richness and nutriment; in hay 
they have no substance, and when green are too washy to fatten animals ; 
the consequence is, most animals in those latitudes browse from necessity, 
and are poor and without size or beauty. It is the same hot sun which 
forces them to a rapid fructification before they have had time to concoct 
their juices. The sugar-cane produces, perhaps, better where it never 
seeds than in the tropics; for the juices will never ripen so as to granulate, 
until checked by frost or fructification. In the tropics, the cane grows 
twenty months before the juices ripen, and then the culm has contracted a 
woody, fibrous quality to such a degree as to resist the pressure of the 
mills, and yields but little juice, and that to an increased effort. In 
Louisiana we succeed well with the sugar-culture, because, while the culm 
is succulent and tender, a white frost checks the growth, ripens the 
juices, and in five months gives us a culm, tender, full of juice, easy to press, 









214 



and yielding much grain of sugar. When Louisiana, therefore, acquires 
all the necessary skill, she will most probably grow this article cheaper 
than the "West Indies. 

Tobacco is a southern plant, but there it is always light and chaffy ; 
and although often well-flavoured, it never gains that strong narcotic 
quality which is its only peculiar property, unless you grow it as far north 
as Virginia. In the south the heat unfolds its bud or germ too soon, forces 
into full expansion the leaf, and drives it to seed before the narcotic quality 
can be properly elaborated. "We may assert a general rule, applicable to 
all annual plants, that neither the root nor the leaf acquires any further size 
or substance after fructification. 

The tuberose, bulbous, and other roots, cultivated for human and 
animal subsistence, are similarly affected by climate, and manifest habits 
in corroboration of the above principle. The Irish potato, although from 
or near the tropics, will not come to perfection but in northern or cool 
countries, or in moist, insular situations, as Ireland. It is in such climates 
alone, that its roots acquire a farinaceous consistence, and have size, 
flavour, and nutriment enough to support, in the eminent way in which 
they are susceptible, animal life. In the south, a forcing sun brings the 
potato to fructification before the roots have had time to attain their proper 
size, or ripen into the proper qualities for nourishment. In Ireland the 
plant grows slow, through a long and cool season, giving time for its juices 
to be elaborated and properly digested ; hence that fine farina and flavour 
which characterizes them. The sweet potato produces larger, better 
flavoured, and more numerous roots in Carolina, where it never flowers, 
than in the West Indies. In the latter place this plant runs wild, covers 
the whole face of the earth with its vines, and is so taken up with making 
foliage, that the root becomes neglected, and is small and woody. In order 
to have the onion in perfection, it must grow through two years, swelling 
all the time its bulbs. In the south, however, it seeds in one year, and 
before it has made much bulb. Beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, radishes, 
and other roots, are equally affected by a hot sun, and scarcely worth 
cultivating far to the south. They all fructify before they have formed 
perfect roots, and make foliage at the expense of their bulbs ; hence they 
will always be articles of commerce. The south will have to depend upon 
the north for them. 

The salad plants are in like manner affected by climate, and give further 
proofs of our assumption. Cabbages, lettuces, endive, cellery, spinage — 
plants whose leaves only are eaten — to protect their leaves from cold (through 
a kind of instinct), wrap them up in leaves, which form heads, and render 
many of their other parts tender and crisp for use. These leaves, thus 
protected, are not only tender, but more nutritious, because their growth 
has been slow and their juices well digested. In the south, a relaxing sun 
lays open the very buds of such plants, gives a toughness and thinness to 
the leaves, and they are too unsubstantial for animal support, because of 
such quick and rapid development. 

The delicious and pulpy fruits are, in a still more striking way, illus- 
trative of our principle. The peach, nectarine, plum, apple, cherry, cur- 
rant, gooseberry, apricot, and many other such families, are not in per- 
fection in the south. It is in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Jersey, 
and in the north of Europe that we enjoy them, although, originally, they 



£15 

came from near the tropics. The peach of the Carolinas is full of larvae, 
gum, and knots, and too stringy and forced to be juicy and flavoured. 
The apple of the south is too acerb to be either eaten or preserved. The 
plums, apricots, cherries, currants, gooseberries, &c, will not even mature 
until we go far north. All the trees which bear these delicious fruits will 
grow luxuriantly in the south, make much foliage and wood, with but 
little pulp, and that unsavoury. The kernel in the one-seeded fruit seems 
to be the first object of nature in southern climes ; that becomes strong, 
oily, and enlarged ; and one of the peach family has so entirely neglected 
the pulp, that it has only a husky matter around the kernel, as the 
almond. The changeableness of the weather in the south, in the spring 
season, throws plants off their guard ; the frosts attendant on those changes 
destroy the young fruit ; and it is only one year in three that the crop hita 
at all. The desiccated or dried state of these fruits enables us to enjoy 
them through the year ; but in the south their acidity carries them into 
fermentation or decomposition before they can be divested of their aqueous 
parts. The climate of the south is equally against converting them into 
cider, or any other fermented liquor, because the heat forces their com- 
pressed juice so rapidly into an active fermentation, that it cannot easily be 
checked until it passes into vinegar. For the same reason distillation goes 
on badly in hot climates, and cannot be checked long at the proper point 
to give much alcohol ; and whether we aim to enjoy the delicious fresh- 
ness of these" fruits themselves, sip the nectar of their juices, refresh our- 
selves with their fermented beverage, stimulate our hearts with their 
brandies and cordials, or feast through the winter upon the dried or pre- 
served stores of their fruits, we are continually balked by the severity of a 
southern climate, and for such enjoyment must look to the north. 

The melons are always affected by too great a degree of heat, even 
though their vines flourish so much in southern latitudes. The forcing 
sun hurries them on to maturity before they have attained much size, or 
acquired that rich saccharine and aromatic flavour for which they are so 
much esteemed. The cantelope-melon will rot, or have its sides baked by 
a hot sun, before it is fully formed ; and the water-melon is always woody, 
dry, and devoid of its peculiar sweetness and richness in the south. Vines 
have been known to run 100 feet, and bear no melon. It is in Philadelphia 
and its neighbourhood, and in similar latitudes, that the markets are 
loaded with delicious melons of all sorts, whose flavour so much refreshes 
and delights us. It is there, near their northern limit, that we cultivate them 
with such uniform success. 

The orange, strictly a tropical plant, is more juicy, large, and delicious 
at St. Augustine (Florida) than at Havana ; and fruiterers, in order to re- 
commend an orange, will say that it is from some place out of the tropics. 
In the West Indies, the pulp of the orange is spongy, badly filled with 
juice, and has too much of a forced flavour to be pleasant. The hot-house 
forcers of Europe, or at Rome, anciently at first produced bad fruit ; too 
dry, too small, and without flavour ; because they overacted. They have 
lately found out that fact, and now the productions of the hot-houses of 
London, Paris, &c, astonish and delight us with the quantity and excel- 
lence of the fruit. They have found out that gradual and uniform heat is 
the desideratum; countervailing the cold rather than imparting much heat. 
Fruit thus produced is pronounced better than any grown in the natural 
way, however perfect the climate. 



216 

The juices of the grape are best matured for wine near the northern 
limit of their growth. On the Ehine, in Hungary, the sides of the Alps, 
and in other elevated or northern situations, the wine is strongest, richest, 
and most esteemed. The French wines rank before the Spanish and Italian ; 
and in no southern country of Europe or Africa, except Madeira, where 
elevation makes the difference, is the wine in much repute. The grapes of 
France are more delicious for the table than those of Spain or Madeira. 
In the northern part of the United States, the excess of heat and moisture 
blights the grape to such an extent that all attempts have failed in its 
cultivation. The grape-vine, however, whether wild or cultivated, grows 
there very luxuriantly. The vinous fermentation can also be best conducted 
in a climate comparatively cool ; and all the pressing, fermenting, and distil- 
lation of the juice of this delicate fruit can be safer and more profitably 
managed in a mild region. 

The olive, and other oleaginous plants, yield more fruit, of a richer 
flavour, and can be better pressed, and the oil preserved, in a mild climate. 
In France the tree is healthier, and the fruit and oil better than in Spain or 
Italy ; and the Barbary States are known to import their oil from France 
and Italy. 

Many other plants might be named, whose habits would equally sup- 
port our position. It is presumed, however, that enough has been cited 
to call the attention of philosophy to this curious subject, and enable us to 
give proper attention to it, in all the practical operations of agricultural 
pursuit. Much time and expense might be saved, and profits realized, if 
this were more generally understood. 

We have already observed, that the heat of the sun in southern climes 
forces plants to a false maturity, runs them on too rapidly to fructification, 
and renders dry and woody the culms, stalks, and leaves of the plants, 
where these parts are used. Hence the chafliness of the leaf, the dryness 
of the culm, the lightness of the grain, and the unsavoury, spongy quality of 
the pulp of the plants in those latitudes. Hence the difficulty of fermenting 
their juices, distilling their essences, and preserving for use the fruit, juice, 
or blades of such plants. The prevalence of insects is another bar to the 
productiveness of southern plants ; swarms of them invade and strip the 
leaves, bore the fruit, and lead to blight and decomposition ; and just in 
proportion as the labours of man have rendered plants succulent, and their 
fruits and seeds sweet and pleasant, do these insects multiply on them, 
devour their crops, and defeat the objects of husbandry. 

The labour of man, too, is more conservative in northern climates, 
because his arm is better nerved for exercise, his health and spirits more 
buoyant ; and instead of saying, " Go and work," he says, " Come and 
work ;" treads with a cheerful heart upon his own soil, and assists in the 
cultivation, collection, and preservation of his own productions. It is in 
temperate climates that man can be most familiar with nature ; it is there 
he has the best opportunities of observing the guarantees which nature has 
for the preservation of her animals and plants against the devastation of 
the elements ; he sees an occasional apparent neglect of individuals, but a 
constant parental care of races. In everything he sees the wisdom and 
benevolence of God. 



217 



APPENDIX «C." 



PROF. M. F. MAURY AND PACIFIC RAILROADS— THE PHYSI- 
CAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MILITARY NECESSITY OF TWO 
RAILROADS, ONE NORTH AND ONE SOUTH. 

At a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of St. Paul, 
Minnesota, held on Saturday, Jan. 22, 1859, at the Room of the Chamber, 
Col. D. A. Robertson submitted a letter of Commander M. F. Maury, 
U. S. N. (Superintendent of the Observatory at Washington), upon the 
subject of Pacific Railroads. 

On the motion of Gov. Alexander Ramsay, Col. Robertson was re- 
quested to furnish a copy of the same for publication, it being in the 
estimation of the Chamber the most able exposition of the subject treated 
upon ever written. 

The request of the Chamber was complied with as follows : — 

" Dear Sir, " St. Paul, Jan. 24, 1859. 

" I venture to comply with your request in behalf of the St. Paul Chamber 
of Commerce, to furnish a copy of Commander Maury's letter of the 4th inst. 
for publication (striking out the portion of a private nature). 

" In doing so, it is proper to remark that the letter was written in the 
course of private correspondence, yet, in furnishing it for publication, I con- 
fidently rely upon the acquiescence of its distinguished and patriotic author. 
Its contents, especially at this time, are of too much national value to be 
allowed to remain in the obscurity of any private hand. May I not say, with 
safety, that the scientific, geographical, and commercial facts therein pre- 
sented, with such transcendent ability and high authority, settle the whole 
question so long debated about routes and roads to the Pacific ? 

11 Yours truly, 
" To Wm. R. Marshall, Esq., "D. A. Robertson." 

" President St. Paul Chamber of Commerce." 



" Observatory, Washington, Jan. 4, 1859. 
" My dear Sir, 

" I have often wished that the question, pure and simple, railroad or no 
railroad to the Pacific, could be put to the popular vote of the nation. Never, 
since the Memphis convention of 1849, should I have had any doubt as to the 
result. The vote would he largely for the road. 

" While all admit the importance of one or more such railways, there has 
been such a diversity of opinion as to routes and plans, that no one route has 
as yet met with friends enough to carry it through in spite of its rivals, and I 
do not think that it ever will. 

11 Two roads at least are necessary. At least two roads — one at the north, 
the other at the south — are required for the common defence. At least two 
roads — one at the south, the other at the north — are necessary, socially and 
commercially ; for by two roads so placed the markets of China, Japan, and 



218 

the Amoor, will be brought nearer to us by many days' sail than it is possible 
for one road to bring them. This may sound paradoxical ; yet I hope, before 
I am done, to explain the paradox to your satisfaction. 

" Let us first consider the importance of two roads in their military aspect. 
Vancouver Island commands the shores of Washington and Oregon ; and 
whether the terminus of the northern road be on Puget Sound or at the mouth 
of the Columbia River, the munitions sent there could be used for no other 
part of the coast, for Vancouver overlooks them. 

" They could not, on account of Vancouver in its military aspects, be sent 
from the northern terminus to San Francisco and the south ; nor could the 
southern road — supposing only one, and that at the south — send supplies in 
war from its terminus, whether at San Diego or San Francisco, by sea either 
to Oregon or Washington. Vancouver would prevent, for Vancouver com- 
mands their coasts as completely as England commands those of France on the 
Atlantic. So complete is this military curtain that you never heard of France 
on the Atlantic sending succour by sea to France on the Mediterranean, or the 
reverse, in a war with England. The Straits of Fuca are as close as the 
Straits of Gibraltar. 

11 In preparing for the national defences of the Pacific, this fact, and the 
fact that Vancouver Island is in the hands of a foreign power, are well calcu- 
lated to impress peculiar features upon any system that may be adopted. 

" But I promised to explain why two roads, one at the south, the other 
at the north, will bring the markets of Asia much nearer to us than either 
road, singly, would make them. 

" Before, however, I go into that explanation, let us clear away some of 
the obstacles which error has placed in the way of a northern route to the 
Pacific. 

" Most men of our age were educated under the belief that parallels of 
latitude and terrestrial climates are correlatives ; that we might tell the 
temperature of any unknown country or region of country, if we knew its 
latitude. 

11 Humboldt and Dove exploded this idea with their isothermal lines. For 
example, they show that the mean annual temperature of North Cape, lat. 70° 
in Europe, is the same as that along the north shore of Lake Superior, in lat. 
50°. Here is a difference of 20° of lat. without any difference in the average 
annual temperature of the two places. 

" There is a difference in the length of day and night at the two places, 
and so far as climate is affected by difference in the length of day and night, 
climate is to that extent, and no farther, an affair of latitude. But with 
differences in length of day and night, the relations between climate and lati- 
tude cease. The thermometer and hygrometer then become the true expo- 
nents of climate. Every region, indeed, tells the whole story of its climates 
by its flora. 

u Let us get rid, then, of our old notions concerning the relations of lati- 
tude to climate, and with unbiassed minds lay out this north temperate zone, 
-which we inhabit, into thermal bands, and then study the flora of these 
bands. After we shall have done this, then I think we will be able to agree, 
at least among ourselves, as to the necessity of two routes to the Pacific. 
Moreover, we can select those routes that will be the best agriculturally and 
commercially ; and when we shall finish with this investigation, you will find 
that these two routes lie exactly where the best plan of national defence re- 
quires them — the northern route commencing at the western boundary of 
Minnesota, and going to Puget's Sound, with a branch, in the course of time, 
to the mouth of the Columbia— the southern route commencing at El Paso in 
Texas, and going thence to San Diego and San Francisco. 

" I speak of these routes as the routes which commerce and agriculture as 
well as war require. The elements indicate them. I place the climatology 
of these, the agricultural and commercial resources of the regions through 
which they pass, in the same catagory, because commerce is based on difference 



219 

of agricultural productions, and difference of productions is an affair of climate 
altogether. Therefore, in studying climates and routes we study variety of 
production, and cannot help looking at them in their commercial aspects. 

" The Army Meteorological Observations, Blodget's Climatology of the 
United States, and Dove's Isothermal Maps, enable us to divide that portion 
of the northern temperate zone occupied by the United States, into two grand 
and characteristic thermal bands. 

" The fauna and the flora of these two bands differ. The people differ 
— their climates differ — the industrial pursuits in them differ — and, there- 
fore, I call them grand and striking subdivisions. 

" Speaking in a general way, the United States lie between the mean 
annual isotherms of 35° and 70°. 

" Take a school map of the world and let us draw with a penoil these 
isotherms across Europe, Asia, and Africa also. 

11 Beginning on the west coast, with a pencil at Sitka, draw it with a 
free hand thence through the mouth of the Red River of the North, touching 
the north shore of Lake Superior, crossing the St. Lawrence below Quebec, 
and thence to St. John's, Newfoundland. Now beginning in Europe, near 
Christiana, drew your pencil up towards the Gulf of Onega ; then draw 
through Orenberg to Kiachta, Marghen, and the mouth of the Amoor. You 
can now see sufficiently near for our present purpose how the isotherm of 
35° runs. The mean temperature of all places south of this line is not more 
than 35°. 

" In like manner we sketch off roughly the annual isotherm of 70° through 
the New "World and the Old. It starts from San Diego, crossing the Colorado 
at its mouth, and then passing down through Chihuahua to Austin, in Texas, 
it goes by New Orleans and Pensacola to the sea. Striking the African 
coast near Mogador, it goes through Cairo, Ispahan, Delhi, to Canton. The 
mean temperature of all places to the north of this line is less than 70°. 

" Now let us devide the belt included between these two isotherms into 
two nearly equal thermal bands, by tracing likewise with a free hand the iso- 
therm of 52°, the mean (nearly) between 35° and 70°. 

11 Beginning near Cape Orford on the west coast, this isotherm passes 
up towards the Dalles, then down a little to the west of Salt Lake to Santa 
Fe ; then up to Scott's Bluff, and then through St. Louis and Louisville to 
Baltimore. Taking it up in England, it passes through Belgium towards 
Zurich, then up towards Olmutz, and so on through Varna, Derbent, Kokan, 
and Pekin. 

"This line divides this belt thermally and geographically into two bands 
of nearly the same size. They include the garden spots of the earth. In 
them man laid his first hearthstone, and from them the lights of civilization 
and Christianity have shed their first and their brightest rays. 

" Let us, for the convenience of reference, call the northern band the 
upper band, and the southern one the lower. 

" We are now prepared to cast the eye over them, and to generalize con- 
cerning the commercial and agricultural aspects of the two routes. 

" The plants which give physiognomy to the fields and forests of these 
bands are, for the upper band, conifers, the willow, the beech, larch, fir, 
alder, elm, hickory, birch, cranberries, and pasture grasses. For the lower 
band, the characteristic plants are thick-leaved evergreens, and arborescent 
grasses, the cypress, cedar, ash, and magnolia, with roses. 

11 The chief commercial plants, besides the cereals — which are common to 
both— are, for the lower band, the orange, the vine, the fig, peach, date, pome- 
granate, citron, the melon, St. John's bread, the sweet potato, rice, indigo, 
tobacco, hemp, cotton, tea, sugar, and naval stores. For the upper band, buck- 
wheat, hay, Irish potatoes, turnips, apples, pears, plums, herds, and flocks. 

" Most of the railways, both in Europe and America, are in the upper 
band ; so are the great centres of commerce, and the places for fairs in Europe 
and Asia — a sure sign that the occupations of the people in the upper band 



are not so exclusively agricultural as those of the lower. In other words, we 
are reminded by this division, that the people, in spite of legislative enact- 
ments, tariffs, and protection, have obeyed the laws enacted by nature as ex- 
pressed for the geographical distribution of labour, and that man, though the 
same in both bands, has in each heeded those physical conditions by which he 
finds himself surrounded, and directed his labours to those pursuits which pro- 
mise the best returns. 

" This circumstance reminds us that railways in the upper bands should 
be much more apt to have full freights "both ways than are railways in the 
lower band. The latter carry away tobacco, hemp, cotton, rice, sugar, &c, and 
may bring back, in a single car, the manufactured articles for which a whole 
train-load of cotton has been exchanged. Hence, as a rule, railroads in this 
band carry more than they fetch. The same raw and bulky articles go into the 
upper band to be manufactured, and when manufactured, they are put on the 
rails for distribution, and for market — thus increasing freights for this band 
both ways. 

" Each one of these thermal bands in the United States wants its roads from 
sea to sea, and each must have it. Each wanted its system of roads between 
the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River, and each has it, whether Con- 
gress would or not— and so it will be between the " Grand Ocean" and the 
Mississippi. 

" Look at the steel engraved map in Putnam's Railroad Guide, and you 
will see how these systems of roads have been formed. Until last summer 
Virginia would stretch no railway line from any of her fine harbours into the 
Valley of the West. North Carolina had no harbours ; hence, the blank space 
on that map between Ohio and Georgia. 

" On the other hand, there was the great chain of lakes. Then there was 
the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Pennsylvania Central Railroads, which were 
commenced at a very early day, and pushed forward with vigour. Now, see 
what a net-work of roads these have called out, reaching to and beyond the 
Mississippi, and stretching due east to connect with these. 

" While Virginia would not, and North Carolina could not, South Caro- 
lina and Georgia went to work with their system of roads, which has already 
stretched itself towards the setting sun far beyond the Mississippi. 

"Texas has given a most magnificent grant of lands and loan of money to 
her southern Pacific Railway, which will extend the southern system as far as 
El Paso, within 600 miles of the Pacific. 

11 Roads from New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis, and other points are to 
join the Texas road. Memphis and El Paso are in the middle of the lower 
band. Hence, you perceive, this band has its roads well under way, and it is 
high time Uncle Sam should take hold and extend it westward. 

" Unfortunately, this road has had troubles to an extraordinary degree — 
but it's a long night that has no day, and it now begins for the first time to see 
the light of real day. The dawn is promising. 

" So, too, in Minnesota : St. Paul is in the centre of the upper band, and 
there is a railroad already under way from St. Paul to Pembina. A branch 
from this road leading to the Pacific will most fairly represent the system in 
the upper band. St. Paul is in the middle of it, and the distance by an air 
line from the western limits of Minnesota to Puget's Sound is, 870 miles ; 
making only (say) 1500 miles of road to be provided for by the General Govern- 
ment, in order to secure both of these roads. Indeed, if the southern road be 
taken to the California line, California will take care of it thence to San Francisco. 
So that by providing for the construction of some 500 miles, Government can 
now secure one at the south. Ten years ago, when this question of a road to 
the Pacific began first to be agitated, Government would have had to provide 
for it all the way from the Mississippi to the Pacific — so it was held — and that 
would have required a single road about 2000 miles long. Now, Government 
aid along 1500 miles will give us two. 

" These bands give a complete quietus to all objections to the northern 



mr* X 

roads on the score of climate. In other parts of the world roads abound in 
just such climates. The road from St. Petersburg to Moscow, and the Prussian 
roads, with others in the same bands in Europe, are even in a higher latitude 
than the St. Paul road will be ; yet climate is no objection to them. Neither 
is it to the Canada railways, nor to any others as far north as the rails have 
been laid. We all expect to see the day when Russia will be extending her 
system of rails into Siberia, and none of us — for in that matter all of us have 
unbiassed minds — anticipate any difficulty on the score of climate. 

"Rain maps for these bands show that the average annual amount of rain 
along this northern route and until you pass the Rocky Mountain range — after 
which the climate is mild, like that of England— is less than it is along any 
railway in the Atlantic States, or in the Mississippi Valley, or, indeed, in 
any part of the world. They show that the average amount of precipitation, 
both snow and rain, in winter, for that part of the route which lies 
between the Pacific range of mountains and St. Paul, is less than three 
inches ! 

" Thus, I think, the question of climate, of terrific snow-storms, and im- 
passible drifts along this route, may be considered as disposed of. 

"We return now to the paradox, that by these two roads to the Pacific, 
the markets of Asia will be much nearer to those of the Mississippi Valley than 
either road alone could bring them. To explain this it is only necessary to 
remind you how the winds blow and the current set that control the routes of 
sailing-vessels — the burden cars of the sea — between the eastern shores of Asia 
and our west coast. 

" The route to Asia lies through the N. E. trade winds. These winds 
blow between the parallel of 30 deg. 1ST. and the Equator ; and vessels that 
take this route usually run across the broad Pacific between the parallel of 18 
deg. and 25 deg. N. where the trades are strongest. Returning, they take the 
great circle route — the shortest distance — and keep well up to the north ; for 
now the ' brave west winds' of those extra-tropical regions which would have 
been adverse for the outward voyage, are fresh and fair for the homeward run. 
So you perceive that a vessel trading under canvas between our Pacific States 
and China describes on every round voyage, an ellipse ; coming out of the 
Straits of Fuca or the Columbia River, for instance, her course is first to the 
southward, as though she were bound round Cape Horn, and until she gets into 
the N. E. trade winds. Her course is then west until she enters the waters of 
the China Seas. She then hauls up to the northward and westward for her 
port. On the return voyage, her course, on coming out of her Asiatic port, is 
to the northward and eastward, until she gets fairly within the ' brave west 
winds.' With these she steers to the eastward, following the great circle 
route, gradually shaping her course to the S. of E. until she reaches our own 
shores again. 

" If she be bound to San Francisco, her route, until she gains the offings 
of the Straits of Fuca, would be the same as though she were bound into 
Puget's Sound or the Columbia River. 

" Thus you perceive that, on the outward voyage, San Francisco is on the 
way-side from Puget's Sound and Columbia River to China ; whereas, Puget's 
Sound and Astoria are on the way-side of the route from China and Japan to 
California. 

"To see how one road only would work, let us suppose it at the north — 
running from St. Paul to Puget's Sound. Let us now follow a package of 
merchandise — say of ginseng — that is sent over this road from Memphis to be 
bartered in China for tea. The ginseng would first go north up the Mississippi 
to get to the road. Thence it would cross to the Pacific ; arriving at Puget's 
Sound, it would then be shipped for China. Now it must come back to the 
South again to (jet into the trade wind region. Thus, you observe, it would have 
to go more than a thousand miles up the Mississippi out of the way; and when 
it reaches the Pacific, it would have tc return again as far to the south. 
Being exchanged for tea in China, it would be nearest for the tea to stop at 



2£2 

Puget's Sound, take the railroad and come south on the Mississippi, instead 
of coming south by sea along the Pacific coast. 

" Now let us, in imagination, place the road at the south instead of at the 
north, and take a hale of furs to illustrate the route of trade and travel. The fur, 
we will suppose, is sent from St. Paul. It comes down the Mississippi to get 
to the road. That would not be out of the way for the fur, for it is bound 
south for the north-east trade winds at any rate ; and it would be, in a national 
point of view, perhaps more desirable to have it go south by the Mississippi, 
than by sea in the Pacific. But when the silk for which it has been exchanged 
in China, on St. Paul account, arrives, on its return off the entrance of the 
Straits of Fuca, it has to turn out of its way. Instead of finding railway 
transportation to take it through from Puget's Sound across to Minnesota, it 
has to run away to the south. Perhaps a week after it might have been in 
St. Paul by a northern road, it arrives by sea in California, and is carried by 
rails to Memphis. Now it has to double iqxm itself to go north, and recross 
every parallel of latitude that it crossed after turning out of its toay from Juan 
de Fuca. 

" This doubling will require two or three weeks of time, besides risk and 
expense. 

" With two roads there will be no doubling, hence two roads will bring 
China and Japan and Russia very much nearer to the Mississippi Valley than 
one can do. The distance saved will be, in furlongs, nearly twice the length 
of the Mississippi River, and in time some two or three weeks. 

" Whether the Government, therefore, aids in the building of these roads 
or not, these circumstances will of themselves call for the construction of at 
least two roads to the Pacific— one at the north, the other at the south. 
Northern capital and southern capital will assist in both. 

"I have thus endeavoured to make clear the parodox with which I set 
out, and I hope I have succeeded in showing to your satisfaction that at least 
two railways — one at the north, the other at the south— are required to the 
Pacific. 

M There are no toll-houses on the lakes, and none on the Gulf of Mexico. 
The commercial voices of these two waters, could it be heard, would be raised, 
each trumpet-tongued, in favour of these two routes. 

11 The nearest way from Brazil and the Amazon, as well as from the 

"West Indies to China, would then be by the South Pacific Railway. 

****** 

" Yours trulv, 

«M. F. MAURY. 
"D. A. Robertson, St. Paul, Minnesota." 



223 



APPENDIX "D. 



TABLE OF DISTANCES, FARES, &c, BETWEEN GREAT 
BRITAIN AND NORTH AMERICA. 



„ Quebec 
„ Quebec 
,, Portland 



Londonderry to Belleisle 

Galway 

Galway 

Cork . . 

Galway 

Cork . . 

Londonderry 

Liverpool . 

Londonderry 

Cork . . 

Galway 

Cork . . 

Galway 

Liverpool . 

Montreal Line to Quebec in summer and Portland in the winter from 
Liverpool. Fares — After cabin, 18 guineas; forward cabin, 15 guineas. 
Steerage passage-money to Quebec from Londonderry, 6 guineas. 

From Glasgow to Quebec, by Allan or Anchor Line. Fares — Cabin, 
13 guineas; steerage, 5 guineas. 

Sailing ships to Quebec from Liverpool, Plymouth, Glasgow, Hull, or 
any English port, charge from £4 to £5; children under 12, half-price. 

From Liverpool to New York, by Inman Line. Fares — Cabin, 15 to 
22 guineas; steerage, 5 guineas. 

From London to New York, by London and New York Steamship 
Line. Fares — Cabin, £15; steerage, 7 guineas. 



Boston 



New York 



2260 miles. 


2280 


)j 


2280 


?j 


2340 


j> 


2528 


?> 


2460 


}j 


2525 


?> 


2750 


5> 


2565 


J) 


2508 


•)■> 


2565 


It 


2698 


)) 


2768 


)> 


2980 


)J 



DISTANCES TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 

From Quebec. 

Via Grand Trunk and Michigan Southern "> lst class - 2nd Class. Emigrant. 
Railroads (1007 miles) . . . . . J £4 ... £20 
From New York. 

Via Hudson River, New York Central, Great ~) 

Western (Canada), and Michigan Central >£4 12 £3 4 £2 
Railroads (distance 950 miles) ... J 

Via Hudson River, New York Central, Buffalo and Erie, Cleveland and 
Erie, Cleveland and Toledo, and Michigan Southern Railroads (dis- 
tance 963 miles). 

Via New York and Erie, Buffalo and Erie, Cleveland and Erie, Cleve- 
land and Toledo, and Michigan Southern Railroads (distance 960 miles). 



224 



2nd Class. 

£3 4 



Emigrant. 

£2 



Via Camden and Amboy, Pennsylvania Central, and Pittsburg, Fort 

Wayne and Chicago Railroads ^distance 920 miles). 
The fares in each case will be the same. 
From Boston. 
Via Boston and Worcester, Western, New York "1 

Central, Great Western (Canada), and Michi- >£^ ig 

gan Central Railroads (distance 1010 miles) J 

From New Orleans. 

Via New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern, "1 

Mississippi Central, Mobile and Ohio, and >£6 

Illinois Central (distance 962 miles) . . J 
Via Steamboat to Cairo (1077 miles), thence^ 

by Illinois Central Railroad to Chicago >£6 

(365 miles)— 1442 miles J 

Milwaukee is 85 miles by railroad from Chicago; Prairie du Chien, 
Wisconsin, is 200 miles by the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad from 
Milwaukee ; La Crosse is united by means of the Milwaukee and Minne- 
sota road which runs across the State of Wisconsin. To reach St. Paul, 
Minnesota, you may take the Galena and Chicago Railway from Chicago 
to the Mississippi, and thence by steamer; or the Chicago, St. Paul, and 
Fond du Lac Railway from Chicago to Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi; 
or the La Crosse Railway, which is now finished to La Crosse, and will 
soon be to St. Paul. 



none. none. 



£2 4 



TABLE OF DISTANCES AND FARES IN THE UNITED STATES 
AND CANADA, VIA GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY. 



UNITED STATES. 



NAME or PLACE. 



F.oston 

BUFFALO 

C;u>c Vincent 

CHICAGO 

CINCINNATI 

CLEVELAND 

Dayton 

Davenport 

DETROIT 

DUBUQUE 

Fonddu Lac 

Galena 

Greenbay 

Indianapolis 

IOWA CITY 

.Toliett 

Keokuk 

Lansing 

Milwaukee 

NEW YORK 

Ogdeasbwg 

Oswego 

Port Huron 

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN 

Rock Island 

St. Louis 

ST. PAUL 

Toledo 

Watertown 

Zanesville 



NAME or STATE. 



Massachusetts 

New York 

New York 

Illinois 

| Ohio 

: Ohio 

! Ohio 

Iowa 

Michigan 

Iowa 

Wisconsin 

' Illinois 

Wisconsin 

j Indiana 

Iowa 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Iowa 

| Wisconsin 

New York 

New York 

New York 

| Michigan 

Wisconsin 

Illinois 

Missouri 

| Minnesota 

| Ohio 

I New York 

1 Ohio 



From QUEBEC. 



Miles. 

423 

573 

359 

1007 

1011 

750 

969 

1159 

724 

119.5 

1176 

1178 

1094 

1030 

1213 

1017 

1227 

1352 

1092 

530 

281 

45G 

672 

1282 

1159 

1292 

1555 

869 



1st 
Class. 



£. •. d. 

1 14 10 

2 7 
1 9 6 

2 10 



4 

4 3 
3 2 
3 19 
4 



i 

i 
i 
i 

4 
i 

4 3 

5 
5 11 

4 9 
2 3 
1 3 

1 17 

2 15 

5 5 

4 15 

5 6 

6 7 

3 11 



15 4 

19 (i 

18 2 

16 8 
16 10 
10 

5 2 

19 8 
3 8 

10 
2 

10 
(i 
(i 
(i 
2 
<i 
4 
1 

10 

8 



958 3 18 10 



I Extra 
Emi- j Lure, 
gram. lQ0 ^ 



£. ft, d 

17 5 

1 3 6 

14 9 

2 1 5 
2 1 7 

1 11 1 

1 19 10 

2 7 8 

1 9 9 

2 9 1 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
I 
2 
1 


1 



D 

1 

lo 
15 

4 
1 
11 
18 
7 

2 12 
2 7 

2 13 

3 3 
1 15 

18 

1 19 



3 1 



7 4 



3 1 



From PORTLAND. 



1st 
Class. 



Miles. 


£. 


s. d. 


697 


2 17 2 


483 


1 


19 8 


1131 


4 


13 


1135 


4 


13 4 


880 


a 


12 4 


1093 


i 


9 10 


1283 


5 


5 6 


848 


8 


9 8 


1319 


t 


8 4 


1300 


5 


6 10 


1302 


5 


7 


1218 


5 


2 


1160 


4 


15 4 


1337 


5 


9 10 


1141 


4 


13 10 


1351 


5 


11 


1476 


G 


1 4 


1216 


5 





580 


2 


V 8 


796 


3 


5 4 


1406 


5 


15 8 


1283 


5 


5 6 


1416 


5 


16 6 


1679 


(i 


18 


993 


4 


1 8 


1082 


4 


9 



Extra 

Emi- Lu SS- 
* rant loTir* 



1 8 7 

19 10 

2 6 
2 6 

1 16 

2 4 
2 12 



6 8 



2 14 2 
2 13 5 
2 13 6 
2 10 1 
2 7 8 
2 14 11 
2 6 11 

2 15 6 

3 8 
2 10 



1 3 
1 12 



17 10 
12 9 

18 3 
9 
10 

4 6 



1 14 10 4 



9 



4 9 



225 



CANADA. 


From QUEBEC. 


From PORTLAND. 




NAME 

of COUNTY or 

DISTRICT. 


M 

o 

'A 

5 




FARES. 


w 
o 

< 


FARES. 


NAME or PLACE. 


1st 
Class. 


Emi- 
grant. 


Extra 

Lugg. 

per 

100 lbs 


1st 
Class. 


Emi- 
grant. 


Extra 
Lugg. 

per 
loo lbs. 


Acton, West 


Halton 


Miles. 
536 
385 
402 
565 
389 
564 
459 
544 
524 
631 
411 
294 
881 
340 
680 
143 
432 
418 
597 
135 
237 
245 
546 
572 
324 
532 
635 
549 
576 
541 
597 
452 
304 
342 
626 
223 
558 
123 
622 
268 
169 
631 
368 
536 
587 
584 
524 
312 
469 
336 
568 
334 
460 
440 
282 
575 
575 

96 
517 
671 
900 
383 
120 
319 
560 
589 
584 
664 
512 
501 
400 
653 
800 
473 
260 
732 
587 


£. 5. rf. 
2 4 
1 11 8 

1 13 

2 6 4 

1 12 

2 6 4 

1 17 8 

2 4 8 
2 3 

2 12 
1 13 8 

1 4 2 

3 12 4 
18 

2 16 

11 10 

1 15 6 

1 14 2 

2 9 
11 a 

19 6 

1 2 

2 4 10 
2 7 

1 6 8 

2 3 8 
2 12 2 
2 5 
2 7 4 
2 4 6 
2 9 
1 17 2 
1 5 

1 8 2 

2 11 6 
18 4 
2 5 10 
10 2 
2 11 2 
12 

13 10 
2 12 

1 10 4 

2 4 
2 8 2 
2 8 
2 3 
1 5 8 
1 18 6 

1 7 8 

2 6 8 
1 7 6 
1 16 10 
1 16 2 

1 3 2 

2 7 4 
2 7 4 

8 
2 2 6 

2 15 2 

3 14 

1 11 6 

10 

1 6 4 

2 6 
2 8 4 
2 8 
2 14 8 
2 2 
2 1 2 

1 12 10 

2 13 8 

3 6 
1 18 10 

1 1 4 
3 2 

2 8 2 


£. s. d. 

12 
15 10 

16 6 

1 3 2 
16 

13 2 

18 10 

1 2 4 
1 1 6 
1 6 
16 10 

12 1 

1 16 2 

14 

1 8 
5 11 
17 9 

17 1 

1 4 6 
5 7 
9 9 

10 1 

12 5 

1 3 6 

13 4 

1 1 10 
1 6 7 
1 2 6 
1 3 8 
1 2 3 
1 4 6 
18 7 
12 6 

14 1 

1 5 9 

9 2 

1 2 11 

5 1 

1 5 7 
11 o 

6 11 

1 6 

15 2 

1 2 
1 4 1 
14 
1 1 6 
12 10 
19 3 

13 10 

1 3 4 
13 9 
18 5 
18 1 

11 7 

1 3 8 
1 3 8 

4 

1 1 3 
1 7 7 
1 17 
15 9 
5 

13 2 

13 

1 4 2 

14 
1 7 4 
1 1 
1 7 

16 5 

1 6 10 
1 13 
19 5 

10 8 

1 10 1 
1 4 1 


s. d. 
3 1 

2 1 

3 1 
2 1 

1 6 

2 1 

1 

2 1 

2 1 

3 1 
1 
1 

4 2 
1 6 
3 1 
1 3 
1 
1 
3 1 
1 S 
1 
1 6 

1 6 

2 1 

1 

3 1 
3 1 

2 1 

3 1 
1 o 
3 1 
1 6 
1 6 
1 o 
3 1 

1 o 

2 1 
1 3 

3 1 
1 o 

6 
3 1 

1 o 

2 1 

3 1 
3 1 
3 1 
1 6 
1 o 

1 6 

2 1 
1 6 
1 6 
1 o 

1 o 

2 1 
2 1 

i"o 

2 1 

3 3 

4 2 
1 o 
1 
1 6 

1 6 
3 1 
3 1 
3 1 

2 1 
1 
1 

3 1 

4 2 
1 
1 
3 1 
3 1 


Miles. 

660 

509 

526 

689 

512 

688 

582 
£668 

646 

754 

534 

417 
1005 

464 

804 

174 

556 

542 

721 

182 

361 

389 

670 

696 

448 

656 

759 

673 

700 

665 

721 

576 

428 

466 

750 

347 

682 

194 

746 

392 

292 

755 

492 

660 

711 

708 

648 

436 

593 

458 

692 

458 

584 

564 

406 

699 

699 

316 

220 

641 

794 
1024 

507 

196 

443 

684 

713 

708 

788 

636 

625 

524 

777 

924 

597 

384 

856 

711 


£. s. d. 
2 14 2 
2 1 10 
2 3 2 
2 16 6 
2 2 2 
2 16 6 
2 7 10 
2 14 10 

2 13 2 

3 2 2 

2 3 10 
1 14 4 

4 2 6 

1 18 2 

3 6 2 
14 4 

2 5 8 
2 4 4 
2 19 2 

15 

1 9 8 

1 10 4 

2 15 
2 17 2 

1 16 10 

2 13 10 

3 2 4 
2 15 2 
2 17 G 
2 14 8 
2 19 2 

2 7 4 
1 15 2 
1 18 4 

3 1 8 

1 8 6 

2 16 

15 8 

3 1 4 

1 12 2 

1 4 
3 2 2 

2 6 
2 14 2 
2 18 4 
2 18 2 
2 13 2 

1 15 10 

2 8 8 

1 17 10 

2 16 10 

1 17 8 

2 7 
2 6 4 

1 13 4 

2 17 6 
2 17 6 

1 6 
17 4 

2 12 8 

3 5 4 

4 4 2 
2 1 8 

16 2 

1 16 6 

2 16 2 
2 18 6 

2 18 2 

3 4 10 
2 12 2 
2 11 4 

2 3 

3 3 10 
3 16 2 

2 9 

1 11 6 

3 10 4 

2 18 4 


£. s. d. 
1 7 1 
1 11 
1 1 7 
1 8 3 
1 1 1 
18 3 


s. d. 
4 2 






2 6 


Arnprior 


Renfrew 


4 2 


Barrie 


3 6 


BELLEVILLE 

Berlin 


Hastings 

Waterloo 

Durham 

Simcoe 


2 1 

3 1 


Bowmanville 


1 3 11 2 1 


Bradford 


1 7 5 
1 6 7 
1 11 1 

1 1 11 
17 2 

2 1 3 

19 1 

1 13 1 

7 2 

1 2 10 
1 2 2 
1 9 7 
7 6 
14 10 


3 1 


Brampton 


Peel 


3 1 






4 2 


Brighton 


Northumberland 


2 1 


BROCKVILLE 


2 1 


Bruce Mines 


Lake Huron 


5 2 




2 6 


Chatham 


Kent 


4 2 


Coaticook 


Stanstead 

Durham 

Northumberland 


1 6 


COBOTJRG 


2 1 


Colborne 


2 1 


COLLINGWOOD 


4 2 


Compton 


Compton 

Stormont 

Stormont 

Halton 


1 6 


Cornwall 


2 1 


Dickenson's Landing. . 
Dundas 


15 2 2 6 
17 6*26 


Gait 


Brant 


1 8 7 

18 5 

1 6 11 
1 11 2 
1 7 7 
1 8 9 
1 7 4 
1 9 7 
1 3 8 
17 7 

19 2 

1 10 10 

14 3 

1 8 


3 1 






2 1 




Halton 


4 2 


GODERICH 




4 2 


Guelph 


Waterloo 

Perth 


3 1 




4 2 


HAMILTON 


Wentworth 

Oxford 


2 1 


Ingersoll 


4 2 


Keene 


Peterborough . . . 

Grenville 

Frontenac 

Middlesex 

Glengarry 

Simcoe 


2 6 


Kemptville 


2 6 


KINGSTON 


3 1 


Komoka 


4 2 




2 1 




3 1 


Lennoxville 


Sherbrooke 

Middlesex 


7 10 ! 1 6 


LONDON 


1 10 8 1 4 2 




16 12 1 


MONTREAL 


Montreal 

Middlesex 


12 Oil 6 


Mount Bridges 


1 11 14 2 
10 3 2 1 






17 13 1 




Lincoln 


1 9 2 
1 9 1 
1 6 7 

17 11 

1 4 4 

18 11 

1 8 5 

18 10 

1 3 6 
1 3 2 

16 8 

1 8 9 

18 9 
13 

8 8 
16 4 

1 12 8 

2 2 1 
1 10 
8 1 

18 3 

1 8 1 

19 3 
1 9 1 
1 12 5 
1 6 1 
1 5 8 
1 1 6 
1 11 11 
1 18 1 
1 4 6 

15 9 

1 15 2 


4 2 


Niagara Falls 


Welland 

Halton 


4 2 


Oakville. . . 


4 2 




Carleton 

Durham 

Carleton 

Brant 


2 6 


Oshawa 


2 1 


OTTAWA 


2 6 




3 1 


Perth 


Lanark 


2 6 




Peterborough . . . 

Durham 

Grenville 

Waterloo 

Oxford 


2 6 


PORT HOPE 

Prescott 


2 1 
2 1 




3 1 




3 1 


QUEBEC (Pnt.Lvi.).. 
RICHMOND 


Quebec 

Drummond 

York 


2 1 
2 1 




3 1 


SARNIA 


Lambton 

Lake Superior . . . 

Hastings 

Sherbrooke 


4 2 


Sault Ste. Marie 


5 2 
2 1 


SHERBROOKE 

Smith's Falls 


2 1 
2 6 






2 6 


STRATFORD 


Oxford 


4 2 




Welland 


4 2 
4 2 


Thornhill 


York 

York 


3 1 


TORONTO 


2 1 




Northumberland 
Kent 


2 1 




4 2 


Wellington Mines 

Whitby 


Lake Huron .... 


5 2 
2 1 






2 1 






4 2 


Woodstock 


Oxford 


1 9 2 


4 2 



226 



APPENDIX "E, 



ITINERARIES OF ROUTES FROM ST. PAUL TO PEMBINA, 
FORT GARRY, FORT ELLICE, EDMONTON HOUSE, AND 
THE GULF OF GEORGIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

A. 

Table of Distances from St. Paul to Pembina — Crow Wing or Woods Road. 



I. ST. PAUL TO LAKE FLOYD. 

United States Military Road Surveys, 1857. 

FROM ST PAUL (FULLER HOUSE) TO 

St. Anthony (opposite the Falls) 

Manoinin .... 

Anoka (east of Rum River) 

Itasca .... 

Orono (Elk River) . 

Humboldt (Big Lake) 

Marseilles (Bear Island) 

Boyington's Tavern 

Clear Lake .... 

East St. Cloud (Brantford post-office) 

Sauk Rapids 

Watab .... 

Langola .... 

Swan River .... 

Little Falls .... 

Bell Prairie .... 

Olm stead's .... 

Mouth of Nokay River (opposite Fort 

Crow Wing .... 

Chippewa Agency at Gull River 

Opposite mouth of Long Prairie River 

Commencement of Grand Marais — (end of built road) 

Crossing of Crow Wing River — Wadena 

Crossing of Wing River . 

Crossing of Bluff Creek . 

Commencement of Leaf Mountain 

Outlet of Leaf Lake 

Leaf City .... 

Otter Tail City (to left of road) . 

First crossing of Otter Tail River (Rush Lake) 

Second ,, „ ,, (end of surveyed line) 

Third 



Ripley) 



i 



Detroit Lake— north shore \ Odometer measurements. 

Lake Floyd (Eagle's Nest Lake) J 



Miles. 


Total 


9 


9 


10 


164 

26* 


64 


33 


7 


40 


H 

9 


48* 


4 


SI 


4 
9 


65 r 

7±\ 


3 


77* 


H 


83 


121 


95* 
105* 


10 


3 

H 


108* 
114 


8 l 

2 


122* 
123 


7 


130 


12* 


134* 
147 


5 


152 


S* 

H 

6 


160* 
169} 
182 
188 


5 


193 


2 


195 


H 


. , 


7 


202 


16 


218 


4 i 

10* 


222* 
233 


6 


239 



m 



II. LAKE FLOYD TO PEMBINA. 

Col. Nobles. 1859. 

FROM LAKE FLOYD TO 

North end of Small Lake, to left of road 

Timbered Lake, to left 

Buffalo River, 10 feet wide, 1 foot deep 

Dividing Ridge, lake and timber. 

Junction of St. Cloud and Pembina trail 

Crossing of Wild Rice River, 35 feet wide, 2 feet deep 

Crossing of Wild Rice Creek, 15 feet wide, 1 foot deep 

Crossing of Sand Hill River, 30 feet wide, 1 J foot deep 

Crossing of Sand Hill Creek (12 feet) . 

Bad marshes ..... 

Stony butte and lake 

Small creek, water in holes 

Crossing of Red Lake River, 175 feet wide, 3* feet deep 

Small lake and marsh 

Small lake . 

Coulee 

Crossing of Snake River . 

Crossing of Middle River, 20 feet wide, 6 inches deep 

Crossing of Pine River, 15 feet wide, 1 foot deep . 

Bend of Pine River 

Small creek . 

Big Point 

South fork of Two Rivers 

Mouth of Two Rivers 

Pembina 



Miles. 


Total. 


• H 


241J 


. H 


246} 


. H 


252 


• 8* 


2601 


. Hi 


272 


5 


277 


5 


288 


. 19} 


301} 


6 


. 307} 


• ** 

■ Hi 


3091 


3211 


. 3$ 


324} 


• ±* 


3291 


. 11 


3401 


■ H 


345 


. 12* 


3571 
3611 


4 


7 


3681 
3741 
3781 


6 


4 


. 6* 


385 


. 15* 


4001 
4061 


. 6* 


. 5 


4111 


. 12* 


424 



III. 



RED LAKE RIVER TO PEMBINA. 

Col F. L. Smith, 1856. 



FROM ST. PAUL TO 

Red River 

Small Lake 

Middle River 

Tamarac River (Riviere aux Epines) 

Small stream 

South branch of Two Rivers 

North branch of Two Rivers . 

Lac du Nord-Ouest 

Pembina, west side of Red River 



Miles. Total. 











329£ 








18 


• 347i 








17* 


364| 


S ) ! 






4 


368} 








16* 


3851 








11 


396* 








4J 


400| 








• "! 


412 








412J 



B. 



Table of Distances from St. Paul to Pembina— plain trail. 

i. 

June and July, 1849. 

Miles. 



ROUTE OF MAJOR WOODS AND GENERAL POPE. 

June and July, 1849. 

FROM ST. PAUL TO 

Crossing at Sauk Rapids ..... 

Cold Water Creek 16 

q 2 



Total. 
781 
94| 



Crossing of Sauk River (Richmond) 

David Lake (now Henry Lake) 

Lake Henrie (now Lake George) 

Crossing of Crow River 

Lightning Lake (now Grove Lake) 

"White Bear Lake 

Pike Lake 

Main branch of Chippewa River 

Elk Lake .... 

Tipsina, or Pomme de Terre River 

Elbow Lake 

Rabbit River (W. branch of Pomme de Terre) 

Crossing of Otter Tail River . 

Crossing of Red River (near Graham's Point) 

Crossing of Wild Rice River, west 

Crossing of Shayenne River . 

Crossing of Maple River 

Rush River, turned it . 

„ bend 

Point of Ridge 
Main branch of Elm River 
South branch of Goose River 
Salt Lakes 

Main branch of Goose River . 
Crossing of „ 

Turtle River 
Big Salt River . 
Little Salt River 
Little Hill River 

Cart River (Riviere de la Charrette) 
Steep Hill River 
Heartshorn River 
Mud River and commencement of Poplar Islands 
Branch of Tongue River 
Mouth of Pembina River 



ROUTE OF ELLIS SMITH AND PARTY 



Crossing at St. Cloud, say . 

Sauk River bridge . 

St. Joseph 

Cold Spring . 

Sauk River ferry, Richmond 

Lake Henry . 

Lake George . 

Crossing of Crow River 

Grove Lake . 

Chippewa River 

White Bear Lake 

Little Chippewa River 



August, 1858. 

FROM ST. PAUL TO 



Miles. 


Total. 


5 


99J 


14 


1131 


7 


1201 


8 


1281 


11 


139£ 


14 


153± 


13 


1661 


11 


1771 


2 


179£ 


5 


184J 


10 


1941 
1981 


4 


20 


218k 


22 


2401 


13J 


254 


11 


265 


17 


282 


18J 


300| 


H 


310 


16 


326 


H 


3331 


8k 


342 


8k 


250J 


m 


361 


H 


3631 


18 


3811 


19J 


401 


9 


410 


12£ 


4221 


2k 


425 


2 


427 


3 


430 


7 


437 


16 


453 


. 10i 


463| 


Miles. 


Total. 




74.52 


6.83 


81.33 


4.94 


86.27 


9.88 


96.15 


5.57 


101.72 


15.80 


117.52 


5.66 


123.18 


10.27 


133.45 


10.40 


143.85 


5.23 


149.08 


6.11 


155.19 


17.52 


172.71 



229 



Lake ...... 

Rapid River (main branch of Chippewa) 
Lake (Pomme de Terre Lake) . 
Pomme de Terre River 
Lake (Elbow Lake) .... 

Lightning Lake .... 

Crossing of Otter Tail River 

Crossing Red River (near Graham's Point) 

Crossing of Wild Rice River, west — bridged 

Crossing of Shayenne River, bridged . 

Crossing of Maple River . 

Crossing of Rush River (creek only) 

Bed of stream, water in pools (Rush River) 

" " " 

Hemlock River (main branch Elm River) 

Goose River (south branch of [?]) 

Stream, 20 feet wide 

Stream, 20 feet wide (Goose River, main branch) 

Lake ...... 

Turtle River 

Stream ...... 

Salt River (Little Hill River), bridged . 

Water in marshes .... 

Crossing of Pembina River (ferry), Pembina 





Miles 


«. Total. 


. 


173. 55 




7.11 


180.66 




8.07 


188. 73 




1.41 


190. 14 




9.22 


199.36 




5.52 


204. 88 




. 15.42 


220. 30 




. 22.90 


243. 20 




. 11-39 


254. 59 




14.82 


269.41 




18.49 


287.90 




7.61 


295. 51 




9.72 


305. 23 




. 13. 64 


318.87 




. 23. 62 


342. 49 




5.07 


347. 56 




11.79 


359.35 


nch) 


5.97 


365.32 




4.61 


369. 93 




17.39 


387. 32 




4.97 


392. 29 




32.98 


425.27 




25.02 


450. 29 




15.30 


465.59 



c. 

Table of Distances of portions of various Routes between St. Paul and Pembina. 



I. SAUK RAPIDS TO SIOUX WOOD RIVER 






Governor Stevens 1 Expedition. June, 1853. 




FROM SAUK RAPIDS TO 


Miles. 


Total. 


Cold Spring Brook ...... 


. 18 


18 


Sauk River Ford (Richmond) .... 


6 


24 


Lake Henry ....... 


• 1H 


431 


Branch of Crow River, 20 feet wide . , 


. 19 


52§ 


Lightning Lakes (Grove Lakes) 


• 9f 


62* 


Branch of Chippewa River, 20 feet wide 


• 6i 


681 


White Bear Lake ...... 


5 


731 


Tributary of South branch, 15 feet wide 


. 104 


84 


Swift Brook, 6 feet wide ..... 


. H 


871 


Pike Lake ....... 


■ if 


89* 


Chippewa River, 124 feet wide .... 


. 10* 


991 


Elk Lake 


i 

5 


100 


West Branch of Chippewa River (Pomme de Terre), 14 


D 




feet wide. ...... 


H 


1081 


Elbow Lake ........ 


H 


1171 


Rabbit River (west branch of Tipsina) 


6 


128J 


Small brook, 12 feet wide .... 


H 


128| 


Small brook (tributary of Rabbit River) 


n| 


1401 


Bois des Sioux River, 8 miles above mouth . 


10 


1501 



230 



II. ST. CLOUD TO GEORGE TOWN. 



Stage and Mail Route. — Table prepared by Mr. B. 



St. Joseph . 

Cold Spring . 

Kichmond 

Oak Grove . 

Sauk Centre . 

Kandotta 

Osakis . 

Alexandria . 

Evansville 

Dayton (Wascata P.O.) 

Breckinridge 

Graham's Point ^ 

Burlington 

Shayenne 

Georgetown 



FROM ST. CLOUD TO 



by land- 



C. Borden. ' 


L859. 


Miles. 


Total 


7 


7 




10 


17 




H 


211 




m 


41 




17 


58 




2 


60 




. 10 


70 




. 12 


82 




. 22 


104 




. 27 


131 




. 24 


155 




. 12 


167 




. 26 


193 




. 20 


213 




4 


217 



III. ST. CLOUD, Via SIOUX WOOD RIVER, TO GOOSE 

Col. C. F. Smith. August, 1856. 

FROM ST. CLOUD TO 

First crossing of Sauk River 

Cold Water Creek 

Second crossing of Sauk Eiver (Richmond) . 
Lake Henry ...... 

Lake M'Leod (Grove Lake) 

Branch of Chippewa River, beyond "White Bear 
which passed to left .... 

Pipe Lake ...... 

Tipsina, or Pomme de Terre River 

Elbow Lake ...... 

Rabbit River ..... 

Bois des Sioux River, about 4 miles from mouth 
Graham's Point ..... 

Wild Rice River, west .... 

Shayenne River ..... 

Maple River ...... 

Crossing of Maple River .... 

Creek emptying into Maple River 

Rush River ...... 

Small branch of Elm River 

South branch of Goose River, here left road . 



RIVER. 





Miles. 


Total. 


. 


3 




14 


17 




5 


22 




18 


40 




15 


55 


* Lake 


i 






18f 


73| 




« 


78 




18 


96 




13 


109 




lOf 


119| 




17£ 


137 




. 17 


154 




• H 


160£ 




. 15 


175J 




. 13 


188} 




. 31 


19l| 




7 


198| 




. 15^ 


214^ 




. 15 


229} 




. ni 


240| 



IV. 



Estimated . 



DETROIT LAKE TO GEORGETOWN. 

By Mr. Borden. 



v. 



Elbow Lake to Wascata, about 

Wascata (Dayton), N., to forks of trail, about 



18 
80 



55 



98 



231 



VI. 



From the Upper Sioux Agency (Yellow Medicine), on the Minnesota 
River, to Breckinridge, the distance by the land route is at least 



125 



VII. RAILROAD LINES. 

1st. The length of the " branch " line of the Minnesota and Pacific 
Railroad from St. Paul to St. Vincent, as far as surveyed and located, to 
Crow Wing, is about 125 miles. 

2nd. The length of the main line of the same railroad, as surveyed 
and located to a point on the Sioux Wood River within 8 miles of 
Breckinridge, is about 207 miles. 



D. 

Breckinridge to Pembina by the channel of the Red River of the North. 





from Breckinridge [mouth of Sioux Wood River) TO 


Miles. 


Total. 


Crossing 


of trail .... 


, . 


. Hi 


Hi 


Graham' 


s Point .... 


, . 


. 5i 


17 


Fort Abercrombie .... 


. . 


H 


23| 


Mouth of Wild Rice River West (Psihu River) 


52i 


76 


»' 


Shayenne River . - 


. 


. 41} 


117} 


Village of Lafayette 


. 


■ 1 


118J 


n 


Shayenne . 


. 


. 21 


121 


Mouth of Buffalo River (Georgetown) 


. 


n 


128J 


n 


Elm River 


. 


251 


153} 


?> 


Wild Rice River East 


. 


■ 6J 


160 


n 


Goose River 


. 


22£ 


1821 


)i 


Riviere au Marais No 5 (from Pembina) [San 


d 






Hill Riviere (?)] . 


. . 


1 


183J 

206} 


?> 


Sand Hill River [Riviere au 


Marais (?)] 


231 


n 


Coulee des Vaches 


• * < 


n 


2121 


11 


Coulee de la Butte de Sable 


. , 


i 


2131 


11 


Coulee du Nez Rouge . 


. . 


. 4* 


218 


11 


Riviere au Marais, No. 4 


. . 


H 


2261 


11 


Coulee du Jeune Bauf 


. • • 


3 


2291 


11 


La Grande Coulee 


. . 


3 


2321 


11 


Coon Creek 


. . 


7J 


240 


11 


Red Lake River (La Grande 


Fouche) 


4 


244 


11 


Coulee de L' Anglais . 


. 


4i 


2481 


11 


Riviere au Marais, No. 3 


. 


• n 


256 


11 


Turtle River . 


, . 


. iii 


2671 


11 


Riviere au Marais, No. 2 


. . 


27f 


295 


11 


Salt River 


• 


» H 


2981 


11 


Riviere au Marais, No. 1 


. . 


13 


3111 


11 


Park River 


. . 


- » 


318} 


11 


Riviere aux Epines . 


. 


• 2| 


3211 


JJ 


Coulee du Bois Perce. 


. 


, 26} 


3481 


If 


Black River 


, . 


3 


3511 


)) 


Two Rivers 


, . 


■ HI 


363 


11 


Pembina River 


. 


. 13j 


376^ 



(V 'J .^ 



E. 



Routes and portions of Routes to the North and North-west of Pembina. 



I. PEMBINA TO TIIE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAINS. 

W. E. Smith and G. C Burnham. 1858. 

ITvOM TEMBIXA TO 

Fort Garry ...... 

Fort Ellice. ascending- the Assiniboine . 
Touchwood Hills Fort . W. N. W. course 

South branch of the Saskatchewan „ 

North „ ., „ 

Crossing the north branch, about a day and a 
half's journey west of Carlton, to Jack-Fish 
Lake {per Odometer) .... 

Fort Pitt ..... estimated 

Edmonton .... „ 

The foot of the mouutains . . ,, 



Miles. 


Total. 


70. 23 


70. 23 


231.29 


301. 52 


169.47 


470. 99 


129.34 


600. 33 


54.88 


655.21 


105.10 


760. 31 


70.00 


830.31 


180. 00 


1010 31 


180. 00 


1190.31 



II. PEMBINA TO FORT ELLICE, I'id ST. 


JOSEPH 






Col. W. H. Xobles. 1859. 








FROM PEMBINA TO 




Miles. 


Total. 


St. Joseph by the south trail .... 


. 


31* 




!• north , 




34} 




St. Joseph to Oak Village .... 


about 


142 




Oak Village to Fort Ellice .... 


» 


61 




Whole distance to Fort Ellice .... 


5) 

FORT. 




238 


III. l'EMIUN.V TO THE KOOTONAIS 




Dr. A. J. Thibodo. 1859. 








FROM PEMBINA TO 




Miles. 


Total. 


Fort Ellice (via Fort Garry) 




300 


300 


Fort Qu Appelle ...... 




126 


420 


The elbow of the Saskatchewan. 




146 


566 


The entrance of the Kootonais Pass 




546 


1112 


Kootonais Fort ...... 




105 


1217 



IV. 



PEMBINA TO MOUTH OF RED RIVER BY WATER. 

FROM PEMBINA TO Miles. 

Fort Garry (confluence of Assiniboine) . estimated 100 

Lake Winnipeg beyond the Delta . . ,,43 



DISTANCE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINENT. 

Captain Blakiston, R.E. 1860. 
Halifax, N.S., to Montreal . 
Montreal to Ottawa .... 
Ottawa to Nipigon Bay, Lake Superior . 
Nipigon Bay to Red River Settlement 
Red River Settlement to Rocky Mountains 
Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Georgia 
Halifax, N. S., to Gulf of Georgia. 
Atlantic Summer Port of Montreal to Gulf of Georgia, B.C 
rn extremity of Canadian Inland to Gulf of Georgia 



Total. 



143 



Miles. 
650 
100 
650 
400 

400 

3000 
2350 
1600 



233 



APPENDIX "F." 



ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC RAILROAD. 

STATEMENT. 
Hon. Edmund Rice State Senator. 

By an Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1857, a grant of land was 
made to Minnesota to aid in the construction of a railroad from Stillwater, 
by way of St. Paul and St. Anthony, to a point between the foot of Big 
Stone Lake and the mouth of Sioux Wood River, and from St. Anthony, 
via St Cloud and Crow Wing, to the navigable waters of the Red River of 
the North, at such point as the Legislature might determine. 

The land granted consists of every odd numbered section for six 
sections (or square miles) in width, on each side of said lines, being 3840 
acres per mile, in length of road, and amounts in the aggregate to 
2,457,600 acres. 

By an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Minnesota, approved May 
22nd, 1857, and amended March 10th, 1862, " The St. Paul and 
Pacific Railroad Company" was incorporated, and all the above- 
mentioned lands were granted thereto; and the terminus of the first 
named line was fixed at Breckinridge, on the Sioux Wood River, and of 
the other at St. Vincent, near the mouth of the Pembina River. The 
length of the former line is 222 miles, and of the latter, 428 miles, making 
in all 650 miles. 

The line from Stillwater, via St. Paul to Breckinridge, has been 
accurately surveyed and located, as also from St. Anthony to Crow Wing ; 
the maps have been filed with the Governor of the State, and with the 
Commissioner of the General Land Office ; the locations have been approved 
by the Secretary of the Interior, and by his direction the lands have been 
alloted to the company. 

The charter is liberal in all its provisions, and contains no restrictions 
as to the rate of tolls, speed, the mode or manner of connexions with other 
roads, &c, and requires no taxes to be paid; but in lieu thereof, 3 per 
cent, of the gross earnings of the road (deducting running expenses) is to 
be paid to the State annually. 

In other respects it is all that could be desired. 

It will greatly facilitate the object of this publication if the reader will 
consult recent maps of Minnesota and North America. 

The great object proposed by the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Com- 
pany, and for which the grant of lands held by them will be a munificent 
endowment, is to connect, by railroad, the navigation of the Mississippi 
River, and its tributaries, at St. Paul, near the Falls of St. Anthony, and 
at Stillwater, on the River St. Croix, with the Red River of the North, 
and other navigable streams of North- West British America. While the 



234 

road across the isthmus, between extensive river systems, is in course of 
construction, one arm of the railroad will, unquestionably, be extended to 
the head of Lake Superior, and another communication will reach an 
agricultural district west of Minneapolis of great natural advantages, and 
which is a favourite destination of emigrants. 

Perhaps nowhere on the American Continent will such important 
commercial results follow as will be witnessed in Minnesota, when 6000 
miles of steamboat navigation on the Mississippi and St. Lawrence Eivers, 
and 3000 miles of similar navigation on the rivers of Central British 
America, are joined together, mostly by the proposed routes of the St. 
Paul and Pacific Eailroad, with a comparatively small imvestment of 
capital. 

Fortunately for the accomplishment of this result, great inducements 
exist for the construction of the first eighty miles north-west of St. Paul. 
When completed, the loveliest and most fertile region of Minnesota, extend- 
ing from St. Cloud to the Red River, will be tributary to its business. 
The valley of the Sauk River, already settled and producing large crops of 
grain ; the beautiful lake region, of which Otter Tail Lake is the centre, 
as large as Massachusetts, and which, under the " Homestead Act," pre- 
sents great attractions to the immigrant ; and the valley of the Red River 
of the North, lying still further to the north-west, will depend exclusively 
upon the railroad communication from St. Paul to St. Cloud as their 
avenue to market. 

An intelligent observer of the map and of the progress of western 
settlements can readily appreciate the probable extent of travel and trans- 
portation over the proposed line, looking solely to the internal movement 
of northern Minnesota. But this is far from a complete statement of the 
case. What may be called the freights, &c, through Minnesota to the 
English settlements of Selkirk and the Saskatchewan constitute an equally 
important fact for our consideration. 

Selkirk settlement, north of Minnesota, and dependent on the route ot 
the St. Paul and Pacific Road for their best and cheapest communication 
with the world, is a community of 10,000 souls, which will soon be the 
seat of government for a new crown colony of England, extending between 
Canada and British Columbia. For the present, Fort Garry, in this 
settlement, is the North American head-quarters of the Hudson Bay 
Company, the most powerful and sagacious commercial organization in 
the British dependencies. The posts of this company, more than fifty in 
number, occupy every commanding situation over the immense area 
bounded by Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior on the east, the Rocky 
Mountains on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, with their 
admirable system of administration, now perfected during upwards of a 
century. The Indians are in complete subjection, and the fur trade of the 
immense interior of British America concentrates its annual product on 
the Red River of the north, at Fort Garry, from which point, by the 
annual voyages of brigades of bateaux, merchandise and supplies are 
distributed to the most distant posts. 

Prior to 1858, the imports and exports of the Hudson Bay Company 
were transported by the difficult and dangerous route of Hudson's Bay 
and Nelson River, or over the numerous obstacles intervening from Lake 
Superior to Red River, on the British side of the international line. In 



235 

1858, however, citizens of Minnesota interested themselves to transport 
material and construct a steamer on the Red Kiver of the North, and now, 
in 1862, two such vessels navigate that stream. The trade previously 
existing between St. Paul and Selkirk has been greatly increased in 
consequence. The business of the Red River steamer, during the year 
1860 and 1861, will illustrate this increase: 

No. lbs., 1860. No. lbs., 1861. 

Freight carried to Fort Garry 433,643 826,483 

Freight brought from Fort Garry 89,306 91,576 

Total Freight carried both ways .... 522,949 918,059 

Number of Passengers 123 308 

It will be observed that the transportation to Fort Garry has nearly 
doubled, while the number of passengers has increased 150 per cent, 
during the past year. Besides this, about 60,000 pounds were carried 
down the river in barges during 1861, making in all, 886,483 pounds, or 
443 tons of merchandise carried to the settlement, and 46 tons brought 
from there. The imports from that country are almost wholly furs. 

When it is considered, what no intelligent man now denies, that 
north-west of Minnesota the country, reaching from the Selkirk settlements 
to the Rocky Mountains, and from latitudes 49° to 55°, is as favourable to 
grain and animal production as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota 
— that the mean temperature for spring, summer, and autumn, observed 
on the 42nd and 43rd parallels in New York, Ohio and Michigan, has 
been accurately traced through Fort Snelling and the valley of the Saskat- 
chewan to latitude 55° on the Pacific coast — and that from the north-west 
boundary of Minnesota, this whole district of Central British America is 
threaded in all directions by the navigable water-lines which converge 
from the south and west to Lake Winnipeg — no reasonable doubt 
remains that the colonization of the continent, even in its ordinary progress 
of agricultural settlement, will extend over the region here delineated. 
With such an extension of English policy and development, the railroad 
system of Northern Minnesota will connect near Pembina. These events of 
the near future will powerfully contribute to the construction of the line 
of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad from St. Paul, by way of St. Cloud 
and Otter Tail Lake, to the international frontier. 

A new event — a new and most influential element — has lately occurred 
to hasten a progress which might otherwise seem remote and speculative. 
The discovery of gold, in 1858, upon the Fraser River and its tributaries, 
was followed by the organization of British Columbia ; and the fact is now 
fully ascertained, that the richest and most extensive gold-field of North- 
West British America — the Cariboo mines — is so far within the Rocky 
Mountains — so far up to the utmost sources of Fraser River — as to be 
practically more accessible from Minnesota and Selkirk than from the 
coast of Puget's Sound. 

A propeller upon Lake Winnipeg, and two small river steamers on the 
Saskatchewan, combining with the steamboats now navigating the Red 
River, would constitute a line from Quebec, by way of St. Paul, which 
could accomplish the journey to the Cariboo district in thirty days, at an 
expense of 150 dollars. The summer of 1862 will doubtless witness the 
establishment of such a line of continental transit. An expenditure of 
100,000 dollars, with present facilities, is more than would be necessary 



236 

for the purpose. Once in successful operation, an overland emigration 
from England and the British Provinces alone would reach thousands 
annually. As it is, during the month of May, 1862, three hundred Cana- 
dians have passed through St. Paul to Fort Garry, expecting thence to 
make the journey overland to the Cariboo mines, prospecting at the 
sources of the Saskatchewan, where rumour indicates a counterpart of the 
surface diggings which have brought the Cariboo region, immediately over 
the dividing summits of the Rocky Mountains, so prominently before the 
world. 

The , Hudson Bay Company, with great sagacity, declines any struggle 
with such a march of events. The successor of Sir George Simpson as 
Governor of the Company, Governor Dallas, is understood to have pro- 
ceeded to Fort Garry in the spring of 1862, fully authorized by the 
London Directors to co-operate in every possible way for the speedy 
colonization of Central British America. It would not be surprising if the 
additional steamers required in the speedy transmission of mails, freight, 
and passengers, to the gold region of British Columbia, were immediately 
constructed under the direction of the Hudson Bay Company. Their 
transportation on Lake Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan has reached a 
bulk which would fully justify the necessary investment. 

The St. Paul and Pacific Railroad is indispensable to the development 
of Central British America. Its line from St. Paul to St. Cloud, and 
thence to the Red River, will be the trunk of transportation to the vast 
north-west, now revealing itself in such magnificent proportions. No 
prospect so favourable attended the first railroad project west of Chicago 
a9 now encourages the pioneer Minnesota Railroad from St. Paul, by way 
of St. Anthony's Falls, north-westwardly towards the Red River of the 
North. 

The first division of the road, from St. Paul to Watab, a distance of 
80 mil's, has been placed under contract, and most of the right of way 
obtained ; 10 miles of which, to St. Anthony, is in operation, and the 
balance will be completed as soon as the material can be delivered upon the 
ground. About 65 miles are already graded and bridged, and the balance 
will be graded by the time the iron is laid upon the portion already graded. 

The company have executed a mortgage upon the first division of the 
road to Russell Sage, of the City of Troy, and Samuel J. Tilden, of the 
City of New York, trustees, to secure the payment of its first mortgage 
bonds for 700,000 dollars; and also its mortgage upon 307,200 acres of 
land, for the sum of 1,200,000 dollars, to Samuel J. Tilden, of the City of 
New York, and Edmund Rice and Horace Thompson, of St. Paul, trustees: 
about 1,600,000 dollars will be issued to pay for the completion of the 80 
miles under contract, with the necessary buildings and machinery. 

The present population adjacent to these 80 miles of road is estimated 
at 67,000. During the three years prior to 1858 it had increased ten- 
fold. In Wisconsin, as appears by the then last census, the increase of 
population had been at the rate of 87 per cent, per annum ; and taking 
this as a basis, the population upon these 80 miles of our road will be, in 
two years, 200,000. Emigration to Minnesota is rapidly increasing, and 
there is now every indication that in another year it will be greater than 
ever before ; thus furnishing additional business for the road, and increas- 
ing the value of and creating a new demand for the Company's lands. 



237 



St. Paul has a population of 16,000; St. Anthony and Minneapolis 
(divided by the river only), 10,000 ; and the valley of the Mississippi to 
Crow Wing (128 miles) is lined with thriving villages and towns, and has 
business sufficient to sustain the road handsomely, if constructed at the 
present moment. 

The traffic upon 80 miles of our road will be, for the first two years : — 

1. The importation and distribution of manufactures, stores, <fec, into 
the interior. 

2. Indian annuity goods, provisions, &c, furnished by the Govern- 
ment to the Indians of Dakotah territory, amounting to the annual value 
of half a million of dollars. 

3. Supplies (other than United States property) for Fort Ripley and 
Fort Abercrombie. 

4. Supplies of goods, agricultural implements, &c, for Selkirk and 
Hudson Bay Company possessions. 

5. Return products from these different points, consisting of cattle, 
furs, buffalo robes, hides, peltries, and horses; the trade of those places 
last year with St. Paul alone amounting to over a million of dollars; 140 
reaping and threshing machines were taken to Pembina during last season. 

6. The goods of the Hudson Bay Company, forwarded from England, 
amounting to about 1000 tons the present year. 

7. Emigrants to and from the Cariboo and Salmon River gold-mines. 

Estimated Income of Road for First Year. 

45,000 tons merchandise from St. Paul to Minneapolis and St. Anthony, Dol. 

1 dollar 50 cents 67,500 

25,000 tons merchandise to points above St. Anthony, 3 dollars . . . 75,000 
100,000 "barrels flour from Minneapolis and St. Anthony to St. Paul, 

10 cents 10,000 

80,000 barrels flour from points above St. Anthony, 15 cents .... 12,000 

1,000,000 bushels wheat to St. Paul, 5 cents 50,000 

10,000,000 feet pine lumber, 1 dollar per M 10,000 

Wool, hogs, cattle, &c 5,000 

200 passengers daily, each way, from St. Paul to Minneapolis and St. 

Anthony, 40 cents 29,200 

40 passengers each way to terminus, 3 dollars 87,600 

346,300 
Deduct 50 per cent, for Government tax and working expenses . . 173,150 

173,150 

Interest upon first mortgage bonds 58,600 

„ „ real estate bonds 84,000 142,600 

Surplus 30,550 

Without resorting to sales of lands, which, by the terms of the mortgage, 
are pledged to pay interest and principle of the real estate bonds. 

At St. Paul and St. Anthony this road will connect with three other 
railroads running easterly, southerly, and south-westerly. 

To convince any one that the bonds issued by this Company should 
command a high price, and take their place as among the best upon the 
market, the following statement of cost of road, value of lands, &c, must 
be sufficient: — 

1. The road, 80 miles from St. Paul to Watab, with a very valuable 
property at St. Paul, being about 30 acres water front, estimated at 



288 

100,000 dollars, with station-houses, engine-houses, shops, rolling stock, 
all complete (of which has been contributed by the State and stockholders 
over 800,000 dollars), costing about 2,700,000 dollars. 

Is mortgaged, first, to secure the sum of 820,000 dollars. 

2. The company own 307,200 acres of land, selected along and near 
the road in 1857, which, by the charter granted by the State of Minne- 
sota, are exempt from all taxation till sold and conveyed by the Company, 
nearly all of which is very valuable ; the average value of which is esti- 
mated by competent persons to be at least 10 dollars per acre, amounting 
to 3,072,000 dollars. 

Upon which the Company have issued real estate bonds, and making 
them second upon railroad, for 1,200,000 dollars. 

The Company, after paying for the entire cost of the road and equip- 
ments, will hold a surplus of over 400,000 dollars of its real estate bonds, 
and the surplus proceeds of the sales of the lands over and above the 
satisfaction of the bonds. 

EDMUND RICE, 

St. Paul, July 1st, 1862. President. 



APPENDIX "G." 



VALUE OF MONEYS. 

The following information will be found valuable to strangers visiting 
Canada, and particularly to emigrants bringing with them sterling money : 

VALUE OF COLONIAL MONEYS. 

The basis of the currency is the imperial gold standard, differing from 
sterling money in the different nominal value of the pound and its 
constituents. 

The pound sterling is by law fixed at twenty-four shillings and four- 
pence currency. At this rate all large transactions are settled, and remit- 
tances, with the correction of the day for exchange, are calculated. 

One pound currency contains four dollars. 
One dollar „ ,, five shillings. 

One shilling ,, ,, two sixpences. 

One sixpence „ ,, six pennies. 

One penny „ ,, two coppers. 

The value in sterling of the pound currency is rather over 16s. 5 J d. 

The dollar currency rather over 4 1J 

The shilling „ „ 9} 

The sixpence ,, rather under 5 

But in retail transactions an approximation is made to the value of 
the coins current in Britain and the United States, and in small purchases 
the following are the rates at which such coins are usually paid away: — 

BRITISH. 

The sovereign £1 4s. 6 c?. 

The crown 6 1 

Half crown 3 0| 

Shilling, called Trente-sous ... 1 3 

Sixpence, ,, Quinze-sous . . 1\ 

AMERICAN. 

Eagle . £2 10s. Od. 

Dollar 5 1 

Half dollar 2 6| 

Dime, or ten cents 6 

Eeal, or York shilling ... . 7-J 

A shilling sterling and a quarter of a dollar are taken in the stores as 



240 

equal. The exchangeable value of the dollar, of course, varies with the 
course of exchange between the Provinces and the United States, which is 
principally ruled by that between New York and London. In general, ita 
value is about 5s. Id. currency, or 4s. 2d. sterling. 



VALUE OF ENGLISH COIN THROUGHOUT CANADA. 



STERLING. 








CURRENCY. 


£ s. d. Dols. Cls. 


1.... 02 


6 








121 


10 








25 


2 6 








60 


5 








1 21 


10 








2 43 


10 








4 86 


5 








24 33 


10 


v 






48 66 


20 








97 33 


50 








243 33 


00 








486 66 



INDEX 



Africa, British possessions in, 2. 
America, expeditions to, by — 

Almagro, 21. 

Balboa, Nunez, and Cabral, ib. 

Columbus, 19. 

Cortez, 21. 

De Hojeda, Alonzo, 20. 

De Soils, Sir Francis Drake, 21. 

Magellan, Orellana, Pizarro, ib. 

Sarmiento, Sclionter, 22. 

Vespucci, Amerigo, 20. 
America, discovery of, 15. 

In its primitive state, 10. 

Inducements to settle in, 198. 

Known to tlie inhabitants of Ireland 
and Norway anterior to the a i yages 
of Columbus, 15. 

Scandinavian records, ib. 
American Colonies, England's duty to 
her, 8. 

Railways, increase in traffic of, 131. 
Arctic Ocean, expeditions to the, by — 

Back, Sir George, 23. 

Baffin, William, 22. 

Beechey, Behring, 23. 

Belcher, 24. 

Britton, Thomas, 23. 

Cabot, Sebastian, 22. 

Cook, Captain, 23. 

Davis, John, 22. 

Dease, Sir John Franklin, 23. 

Frobisher, Martin, 22. 

Hall, 24. 

Heame, Samuel, 23. 

Hudson, Henry, 22. 

Inglefield, 24.* 

Mackenzie, Alexander, 23. 

M'Clintock, M'Clure, 24. 

Parry, Sir Edward, 23. 

Penny, Rae, 24. 

Richardson, Sir John, 23. 

Ross, Sir John, Simpson, ib. 
Asia, Western, migratory journeys of the 

people of, 13. 
Astronomers, celebrated, 14. 
Atlantic, speculations of Europeans as to 

a land peopled beyond the, 18. 
Australia, statistics of, 2. 

Bennett, Mr. John, extracts from his Re- 
port on the Public Schools of New 
Brunswick, 52. 

Blessings of peace, 142. 



British Colonies, the, 1. 

Their extent, population, imports, 
and exports, 2. 
British Columbia, boundary line of, 106. 
Cariboo gold river, 117. 
Discovery of the gold, 110. 
Early discovery of the colony, 106. 
Export of gold in 1863, 120. 
Fertility of soil in the gold neigh- 
bourhood, 121. 
Gold-mines, 108. 
Gold on Frascr River, 112. 
Lakes and Rivers, 107. 
Lillooett gold-mines, 117. 
Mines on Thompson River, 115. 
Progress of the colony, 121. 
Richness of the mines, 114. 
Rocky Mountains described, 105. 
State of labour in the colony, 119. 
Steele's company, 118. 
Testimony of Governor Douglas, D. 
G. F. Macdonald, Esq., and the 
Times correspondent, 111. 
British Guinea, statistics of, 2. 
British India, statistics of, ib. 
British North America, its extent, popu- 
lation, imports and exports, 3. 
Its prospective wealth, 4. 
British North American Confederation, 
proposed, 3. 
A means of security, 5. 
Duty of England towards the, 135. 
General review of the Confederacy, ib. 
Resolutions adopted at a conference 
held in Quebec as the basis of the, 
205. 

Canadas, The, agricultural statistics of, 8 1. 
Colonization of, 29. 
Commerce of, 59, 60. 
Description of, 54. 
Farming interest of, 80. 
Kingston, Hamilton, and Cobourg 

described, 80. 
Lakes, rivers, and canals, 55. 
Mineral wealth of the great lakes, 59. 
Montreal and its trade, 77. 
Principal cities of Canada, ib. 
Quebec and its trade, 78 — 80. 
Shipping of Canada, 61. 
Tables showing the trade of, 83. 
Ten reasons for emigrating to, 67 — 77. 
The Pictured Rocks, 56, 



242 



INDEX. 



Canada, the Rapids, 66. 

Trade of the colony, 62. 
Toronto and its trade, 78. 

Canadian Almanac for 1864, extracts from 
the, 67—77. 

Canadian Railways, 132. 

Buffalo and Lake Erie Railway, 133. 
Grand Trunk Railway, ib. 
Great Western Railway, ib. 
Cost of, 134. 

Canadian song, 67. 

Cariboo gold-mines, 117. 

Charter, Royal, grant of a, by Charles II. 
to the Hudson's Bay Company, 85. 

Chase, Hon. S. P., report by the, 59. 

Chicago, shipping and trade' of, 62. 

Cities, principal Canadian, 77. 

Cobourg described, 80. 

Colonial moneys, value of, 239. 

Colonization, the progress of, 25. 

Colorado, area and population of, 184. 

Confederacy, general review of the British 
North American, 135. 

Confederation, the proposed British North 
American, 3. 

Conference of delegates from the provinces 
of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New 
Brunswick, and the colonies of New- 
foundland and Prince Edward's Is- 
land, resolutions adopted at a, 205. 

Cultivated plants, increased production 
of, near the northernmost limit of 
their growth, 212—216. 

Distances and Pares, Table of, between 
Great Britain and North America, 223 

Distances and Pares, Table of, in the 
United States and Canada, via the 
(hand Trunk Railway, 224, 225. 

Distances to Chicago, Illinois — from Que- 
bec and New York, 223 ; from Boston 
and New Oilcans, 221. 

Edmonton, life at, 91. 
Emigrant, homes for the, 98. 
Emigrants, advice to, 120, 193. 
Emigration from Germany to America, 1 95. 

General Progress of, to America, 193. 
English appreciation of United States of 

America, and her sympathy, 140. 
English coin, value of in Canada, 210. 
Expedition, Franklin, loss of the, 23. 
Explorer, geographer, and navigator, 

early efforts of the, 9. 

"Fertile Belt," the, 96. 

Forrv, Dr., on the " Acclimating Princi- 
ple of Plants," 212. 

Foster and Whitney, Messrs., their report 
of the geology of the Lake Superior 
District, extract from, 56. 

Fraser River gold-mines, 112. 

Frederictown, the political capital of New 
Brunswick, where situated, 47. 



Geographers, celebrated, 14. 

Geology of the Lake Superior District, 
extract from report of the, 56. 

Gibraltar, statistics of, 2. 

Gold-fields, the Nova Scotian, 44. 

Gold-mines of British Columbia, 108. 

Gold, prospecting, panning, and wash- 
ing, 124. 

Great Salt Lake, settlements of the, 186. 

Greenland, Eric the Red establishes a 
colony on the coast of, 15. 

Halifax, description of, 43. 

Hamilton described, 80. 

Highwav across the Hudson's Bay 

Territory, 99. 
Highway between the Mississippi States 
and the Pacific coast, necessity of 
more than one, 183. 
Honduras, statistics of, 2. 
Hudson's Bay Companv, Charter of the, 
85. 
Definition of the, ib. 
Fur trade, extent and value, 86 — 88. 
Lands of, in the market, 101. 
Profits of the, 86. 
Hudson's Bay Territory, American 
Trade, 98. 
Crossing the Rocky Mountains, 102. 
Government of, 88. 
Homes for the emigrant, 98. 
Minerals, vegetable productions, 

animals, fish, &c, 96. 
Physical features ot, 89. 
Plains, lakes, and rivers, 90. 
Progress of the West, 103. 
Red River Settlement, 97. 
Report of the New York Chamber of 

Commerce, 92. 
Testimony as to the fertility of the 
territory— by Captains Blakiston 
and Palisser, 96, 149 ; M. Bour- 
geau, Sir George Simpson, Father 
Do Smet, and Professor Hind, 
91—95. 
The Railway Route, 95. 
The Saskatchewan Valley, 96. 
Human race, the progenitors of the, 12. 

Iceland discovered by some Scandina- 
vians, a.i). 861, 15. 
Illinois, Agricultural progress of, 161. 

Area and population, ib. 

Railway system of, 163. 

Stock-breeding and raising in, 199. 

Valuation and taxation of, 162. 

Value of the lands of the Illinois 
Central Railroad, 182. 
Immigration, comparative increase in, to 

America, from 1861 to 1864, 194. 
Indiana, Agricultural products of, 152. 

Area, population, and progress, ib. 

Manufactures, 153. 

Railways and Canals, 154. 



INDEX. 



243 



Inter-Colonial Railway, the, 134. 
International Pacific Railway, testimony 

of Captains Palliser and Blakiston in 

reference to an, 1S7 — 191. 
Iowa, Agricultural wealth of, 159. 

General description of, 158. 

Railway system, 161. 
Itineraries of* routes from St. Paul, 

Minnesota, to Pembina, Fort Garry, 

Fort Ellice, Edmonton House, 

and the Gulf of Georgia, British 

Columbia, 226. 

Kansas, statistics of, 185. 
Kingston, description of, 80. 

Labour in British Columbia, 119. 

Letters to the Author, bearing testimony 
to the value of the lands situated in 
Central British America, 201, 202, 203. 

Life at Edmonton, 94. 

Lillooett gold-mines, 117. 

Macdonald, G. Forbes, F.R.G.S., on the 
discovery of gold in British Columbia, 
111. 
Maury, Professor M. F., on Pacific rail- 
roads, 217. 
Mayne, Captain, R.N., on British Colum- 
bia, 124. 
Michigan, cereal products and miscel- 
laneous crops, 155. 
General statistics of, 154. 
Products of agriculture, ib. 
Railroads, 156. 
Migration, laws of, 197. 
Minnesota, agricultural productions of, 
176. 
Extent of territory and population 

of, 165. 
Falls of St. Anthony and their water 

power, 169. 
Growth of property in, 179. 
Lands granted for railways in the 

State, 182. 
Mineral resources, sandstone, &c. ,171 
Physical districts of, 166. 
Progress of population in, 180. 
Railway through the State of, 181. 
Rapid progress in cultivation, 175. 
Relations of, in reference to internal 

commerce, 173. 
Salt springs, 172. 
St. Croix Falls, the, 170. 
St. Paul, the capital of, 166. 
Superiority of Minnesota over New 

England, 170. 
The testimony of the Hon. TV. H. 
Seward as to the future of Minne- 
sota, 180. 
Mitchell, Professor, his testimony as to 

the value of railroads, 130. 
Montmorenci, the Falls of, 79. 
Montreal, description of, 77. 



Nebraska, statistics of, 185. 

Nevada, population and progress of, 186. 

Ne wBrunswick, agricultural resources, 53. 

Capabilities of, 47. 

Census and militia, 53. 

Colonization of, 27. 

Commerce, 50. 

Description of, 46. 

Finances and government, 51. 

Fisheries, 49. 

Forests, 48. 

Minerals, fruit and vegetables, and 
manufactures, 49. 

Public schools, 52. 

Railway system, 132. 

Rivers and counties. 46, 49. 
Newfoundland, agricultural statistics of, 3 1 

Colonization of, 25. 

Description of, 31. 

Fisheries and government, 32. 

Imports, exports, and shipping, 33. 

Population, 34. 
New York Chamber of Commerce, report 

of the, 92. 
New Zealand, statistics of, 2. 
North America, the railway system of, 127. 
"North Star" of the Western States, the, 181 
Nova Scotia, agriculture of, 39. 

Botanical productions, seasons, 38. 

Colonization of, 28. 

Commerce and population, 41. 

Crown lands, 42. 

Description of, 37. 

Fisheries, 40. 

Gold-fields, 44. 

Government and education, 43. 

Minerals, 44, 45. 

Quadrupeds, birds, and fish, 42. 

Railway system, 132. 

Shipping, 39. 

Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, opening 

of the, 129. 
Ohio, description of, 150. 

Products of agriculture, ib. 

Railways, 151. 

Testimony of T. Addison Richards as 
to the fertility of her soil, 152. 

Pacific Railroads, the physical, com- 
mercial, and military necessity of two, 
one north and one south, 217 — 222. 

Palisser, Captain — his testimony as to the 
necessity of a railway route through 
the United States to the Red River 
country, 149. 

Peace, blessings of, 142. 

Peaceful relations between United States 
and Canada, 148. 

Primary object of the book, 149. 

Prince Edward's Island, colonization of, 
27. 
Counties, towns, and population, 36. 
Description of, 34. 



244 



INDEX. 



Prince Edward's Island — 

Education and government, 36. 
Imports and exports, 35 
Industrial resources of, ib. 

Quebec, description of, 78. 

Railway, length of, in England, France, 
and the United States, 128. 
Must pass through the State of Min- 
nesota on its way to the Pacific, 181. 
Route from the Atlantic to the Pa- 
cific, 6. 
System of Nova Scotia and New 
Brunswick, 132. 

Railways of the United States, number, ex- 
tent, and aggregate cost of all the, 163. 

Reciprocity Treaty, the, 143. 

Increase of trade influenced by, 144. 
Increase of traffic on the American 

railways and canals, 145, 146. 
Leading features of, 143. 
Mutual advantages, 144. 

Red River Settlement, account of, 97. 

Rice, Hon. Edmund — his statement re- 
specting the St. Paul and Pacific 
Railroad, 233—238. 

Rice, Hon. Henry M.— his estimation of 
the State of Minnesota, 201. 

Robertson, Col. D. A., letter of, to the 
President of the Chamber of Com- 
merce of the City of St. Paul, Min- 
nesota, 217. 

Rocky Mountains, extent, altitude, and 
passes of the, 105. 

Route to British Columbia wholly through 
British territory impossible, 149. 

Saskatchewan Valley, the, 90. 

South Pacific Railway, estimated cost of, 

1ST. 
Speculations of Europeans as to a land 

peopled beyond the Atlantic, 18. 
Steam a revolutiooixer, 128. 
St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland, 

described by Mr. Warlmvton, 34. 
St. Lawrence, the rapids of the, 06. 

Superior Basin of the, 166. 
Stock-breeding and raising iii Illinois, 199. 
St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, letters and 
papers concerning the, 200—203. 

Statement by the lion. Edmund Rice 
in reference to the, 233 — 238. 



St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, the, 217. 
Swann, the Hon. Mr., on the construction 
of railroads, 130. 

Table of distances and fares in the United 

States and Canada, via Grand Trunk 

Railway, 224. 
Tables showing the trade and navigation 

of the canals of Canada, 83. 
Tables showing the number of vessels 

(American and Canadian) engaged in 

the commerce of the lakes, 61, 62. 
Territory, Hudson's Bay, 85. 
Testimony of the Governor of Minnesota 

as to the fertile districts of that State, 

200. 
Toronto, description of, 78. 
Travellers, celebrated, 14. 
Travelling, early, 126. 

United States or America, beauty of 

the lakes, rivers, prairies, and 

mountains, 139. 
English appreciation of America, and 

her sympathy, 142. 
Extent and progress of the States, 1 38 . 
Exports and imports, 147. 
Increase of trade, 144. 
Peace and reciprocity, 142. 
Poets, orators, historians, &c, 140. 
Railway traffic, 145. 
Reciprocity Treaty, its leading 

features, 143. 
Traffic on the canals, 146. 
Utah, population and progress of, 186. 

Value of colonial moneys, 239. 
Vancouver's Island, agricultural resources 
and coal-beds of, 122. 

Description of, 121. 

Importance of, as a naval station, 122. 

Imports and exports, 123. 

Western States of America, wealth of 

the, 150—164. 
West Indies, British possessions in the, 2. 
West, progress of the, 103. 
Wisconsin, agricultural progress of, 15S. 

Income and expenditure, ib. 

Railroads and products of agricul- 
ture, 157. 

Topographical features, 156 

Valuation and taxation in 1863, 158. 



CLAYTON AND CO., PRINT LRP, BOCVKMK 8THKET, LONDON, K.C. 



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